Treatment of slices from carrot (Daucus carota) using high intensity white pulsed light

Experiments with washing of carrot slices using distilled water and 0.9% (w/w) NaCl in combination with varying number and pulses of high intensity white were carried out. Slices of carrot 3.5 cm in diameter and 2 mm thick were inoculated using diluted dispersions of yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for varying time (0–240 min) and then the slices were treated with high intensity pulsed white light (one pulse = 0.7 J/cm²) using from none to 24 pulses. The major part of the yeast cells were killed using two pulses of light. The studies included washing of inoculated slices up to five times using salt 0.9% (w/w) NaCl and distilled water and inoculation at 22 °C for between 5 and 120 min. It was concluded that treatment of carrot slices with high intensity white light may reduce the load of yeast cells with up to 6 log cycles. Inoculation time at 22 °C had no effect on the maximum load of yeast cells.