High-Pressure Destruction Kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes on Pork

Packaged fresh pork chops (30-g samples) containing an indigenous bacterial population of ∼107 CFU/g were inoculated with 107 CFU of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A per g, heat sealed, and subjected to high-pressure processing at 200 to 400 MPa for up to 90 min. Total counts and the number of surviving L. monocytogenes cells were determined by a spread plate technique on tryptic soy agar and modified Oxford medium, respectively. The pressure destruction was characterized by a dual-behavior, consisting of a step change in the number of survivors (Pko) with the application of a pressure pulse and a first-order rate drop in the number of survivors during the pressure hold period. Higher pressures resulted in higher rates of microbial inactivation, as indicated by their associated lower D values (and higher k values). The pressure sensitivities of the kinetic parameters were evaluated on the basis of Arrhenius and pressure death time (PDT)-type models. The results suggested that L. monocytogenes was more resistant to pressure inactivation than the indigenous microflora (the volume change of activation, ΔV≠ [Arrhenius model]), and zp values (PDT model) were −4.17 × 10−5 m3 mole−1 and 134 MPa for indigenous microflora and −3.43 × 10−5 m3 mole−1 and 163 MPa for L. monocytogenes respectively.