Safety of Overnight Refrigerated Watermelon Slices for Consumption

Safety of overnight refrigerated watermelon slices for food consumption was studied. The total plate counts on samples of fresh-cut surface, fresh-cut surface after overnight refrigerated storage, and 2 cm beneath fresh-cut surface after overnight refrigeration of three varieties of watermelons sold in Fuzhou were determined according to the method described under GB 4789.2-2016. The results showed no significant difference on samples from a same watermelon cultivar. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the microorganisms isolated from the samples indicated that they were mainly Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Enterobacter, Escherichia and Erwinia genera. Since most of them commonly exist in the air and soil and are of relatively low health concerns, the fresh-cut watermelon after overnight refrigeration ought to be safe for consumption.