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<p>The goal of this project is to investigate the antimicrobial potential of octenidine hydrochloride (OH) applied at pre- and post-harvest levels for controlling foodborne pathogens on cantaloupes.</p>
<p>Octenidine hydrochloride (OH) is an antimicrobial agent commonly used in mouth rinse products in Europe. Our preliminary research has revealed that OH at very low concentrations is highly effective in rapidly killing L. monocytogenes on cantaloupe surface. Cantaloupe on vines will be surface inoculated with attenuated strains of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella and then sprayed with different concentrations of OH. Treated cantaloupe will be harvested periodically and analyzed for surviving populations of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella. The goal is to determine the antimicrobial efficacy of OH for inactivating L. monocytogenes and Salmonella when applied as a spray on cantaloupes in the field.</p>