Evaluation of the decontamination efficacy of gas plasma on table and hatching eggs

Gas plasma is a ionized gas that can be used as sterilization agent at atmospheric conditions without damaging the materials with heat or chemical agents. Its bactericidal effect is due to a synergistic combination of UV photons, charged particles and reactive species such as atoms and radicals. The decontamination efficacy of gas plasma was evaluated both on table and hatching eggs. In particular, the Salmonella Enteritidis load on eggshells of experimental contaminated table eggs was investigated by surface plating at days 0, 1, 2, 3 8, 10, 15, 21, 24 and 28 post treatment. On hatching eggs, the loads of total mesophilic bacteria, Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas spp. and enterobacteriacae were investigated on gas plasma treated eggs at day 0 post treatment and at 22 post treatment (one day after hatching) and compared to the loads on formaldehyde fumigated eggs. The RBD prototype generates gas plasma able to significantly reduce the bacterial contamination on the surface of table and hatching eggs without detrimental effects on both the quality traits of table eggs and on hatching performance of hatching eggs, and suggest this promising technique as a valuable alternative to techniques employing toxic compounds potential dangerous for humans.