Effects of Ozonated Water Treatment on the Microbial Population, Quality, and Shelf Life of Shucked Oysters (Crassostrea plicatula)

An ozonated water treatment system was designed for the sanitation of shucked oysters (Crassostrea plicatula). The effects of ozone (O3) on shelf life were examined under refrigerated conditions (4 ± 1°C). Microbiological, chemical, and color quality were also evaluated by determining total aerobic plate counts (APC), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), and L, a, and b values. Single and orthogonal experiment results showed that oysters treated with 9 mg/L of O3 in aqueous solution (oyster: ozonated water = 1:6, w/v) for 10 min at 5°C significantly reduced the total APC by about 2-log—from 4.97 ± 0.11 to 2.93 ± 0.17 log CFU/g (p < 0.05). O3 treatment did not cause significant changes in TVB-N, TBA, a, and b values, although L values were significantly affected. During refrigerated storage, O3-treated samples expressed lower TVB-N, TBA, a, and b values and higher L values than control samples. The shelf life of O3-treated samples was 20 to 25 days, while that for the controls was 5 to 10 days. The current study confirms that treatment with ozonated water can effectively prolong the shelf life and maintain the quality of oysters.