Abstract:
The World Health Organisation promotes increased consumption of fresh fruit and
vegetables to address global health and nutritional challenges. Pome fruit are widely
consumed and contribute to a healthy diet, therefore represent an important traded product.
The South African pear export industry is ranked as one of the top ten international exporters
of fresh fruit. The importance of retaining market access is thus important and compliance
with international food safety requirements is essential. To the authors knowledge this is
the first supply chain study that is focused on the microbial quality and safety of fresh pears
in the postharvest environment. The findings in this study aid in a better understanding of
the microbial dynamics of the fruit surface (carpoplane) and the microbial population shifts
due to postharvest practices. Current national guidelines for ready-to-eat fresh produce place
emphasis on bacterial loads and absence of selected foodborne pathogens. Escherichia coli
O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar
Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus were demonstrated to attach, replicate and survive
on the pear carpoplane. However, on market-ready pears these foodborne pathogens were
not detected. Analysis of the carpoplane dominant bacterial populations reflected both
harmful as well as beneficial residential bacteria that are known to either have the potential
to affect human or plant health, respectively. The study provides an overview of the pear
bacterial biome and this information can be used in future regulatory adjustments for food
safety assurance. An assessment of the current industry wide food safety management
practices reveal that not all aspects of the food safety assurance systems have been
effectively implemented at an appropriate level.
