Summary
This narrative review examines the microbial spoilage of fruits, vegetables and cereals, synthesising evidence on contributing factors including environmental conditions (pH, temperature, oxygen) and post-harvest practices. The authors explore spoilage mechanisms and discuss management strategies, including alternative uses for surplus or over-ripened produce for food product development, animal feed, and biotechnological applications such as bioremediation. The review emphasises the importance of optimising cultivation and supply chains to mitigate environmental, nutritional and food security impacts.
Regional applicability
The review is global in scope and addresses universal post-harvest spoilage challenges. Its findings on environmental factors, microbial sources and management strategies are broadly applicable to United Kingdom horticulture and cereal sectors, though specific implementation would depend on local supply chain infrastructure, consumer practices and regulatory frameworks.
Key measures
Factors influencing spoilage (pH, temperature, oxygen); sources and routes of spoilage microorganisms; spoilage mechanisms; management and control strategies
Outcomes reported
This review synthesised evidence on factors contributing to microbial spoilage of fruits, vegetables and cereals, including environmental conditions and post-harvest practices. It explored spoilage mechanisms and management strategies, including alternative uses for surplus produce.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.