Spoilage yeasts in fermented vegetables: conventional and novel control strategies

Abstract

[EN] Fermented vegetables are produced by the growth of different microorganisms present in raw products. Yeasts are essential in food fermentations, but they are also potential spoilage agents that can cause several alterations to the final product. This review provides an overview of the most relevant spoilage yeasts present in fermented vegetables, such as table olives, fermented pickles, and sauerkraut, and the strategies that can be followed to prevent their presence in the final product by extending their shelf life. Conventional treatments have been applied for years to fermented products to reduce or control microbial contamination. In this group, although the application of thermal treatments and the use of chemical additives are remarkable, these technologies have some drawbacks. Nowadays, the food industry seeks techniques that are lethal to spoilage microorganisms, but have no adverse effects on the nutritional value, organoleptic characteristics, and beneficial product microbiota. Non-thermal technologies, such as high hydrostatic pressure, UV-C light, and electrolyzed oxidizing water treatments, applied alone or combined, are effective alternatives to conventional preservation treatments to achieve secure fermented vegetables with a high quality.