Abstract: The microbial contamination conditions of 48 kinds of low mositure capsicum powder were investigated. The results showed that the bacteria counts are 2.2×104～2.8×106CFU/g, average bacteria counts are 4.8×105CFU/g.The majority of the bacteria flora of capsicum powder are Bacillus and Coccus. The microbial contamination conditions of the whole capsicum powder process were also investigated. The results showed that baking could reduce the bacteria numbers of the capsicum surface, but its effect is very limited. Bacillus counts could affect the baking sterilization. Ozone treatments were used in reducing the bacteria counts of the spice. The results showed that sterilization rate is 5.0% for ozone treatments 1h for 1mm thickness of capsicum powder and ozone could decrease the bacteria counts of the capsicum after 5 days treatment from 1.5×106CFU/ g to 6.8×103CFU/g, and the bacteria counts of the capsicum powder could be reduced to 1.2×102CFU/g after further baking. In this study the ozone sterilization is very efficacious in reducing the bacteria counts for different capsicum powder microbial contaminationc onditions.

Key words: low moisture capsicum, microbial contamination, ozone sterilization