Note. Antimicrobial Effect of Pressurized Carbon Dioxide on Yersinia enterocolitica in Broth and Foods
Antimicrobial effect of 15, 30 and 60 atm CO 2 pressures was studied on Yersinia enterocolitica at 25, 35 and 45 °C. Two stages were observed in the destruction curves. The earlier stage was characterized by a slow rate of inactivation in number of Y. enterocolitica, which increased sharply at the later stage. An increase of pressure and/or temperature enhanced the antimicrobial effects of CO 2. The D values of 6.1 and 4.9 min were obtained for Y. enterocolitica at 45 °C under 15 and 30 atm CO 2 pressure, respectively, while only 1.3 min D value was found at 60 atm. A rapid and significant ( p < 0.05) reduction was obtained in the number of Y. enterocolitica at treated pressures and temperatures. Pressure, temperature, exposure time, and the suspending medium influenced the inactivation rates of Y. enterocolitica.