Thermal Inactivation of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in Peanut Butter–Filled Pretzels and Whole Wheat Pita Chips

2019 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
BALASUBRAHMANYAM KOTTAPALLI ◽  
STEPHANIE P. V. NGUYEN ◽  
TIM PEREZ ◽  
ASHLEY CUNNINGHAM

ABSTRACT Recent recalls and outbreaks due to foodborne pathogens in thermally processed low-moisture foods highlight the need for the food industry to validate their thermal process. The purpose of this study was to validate baking as an adequate lethality step in controlling Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes during the production of peanut butter (PB)–filled pretzels and whole wheat (WW) pita chips. Two dough types, PB-filled pretzel and WW pita chip with varying water activities (0.96 to 0.98), were inoculated (target level, ∼108 to 109 CFU/g) with a multistrain cocktail of Salmonella and L. monocytogenes in separate trials and were baked at 300°F (148.9°C) and 350°F (176.6°C) for 0, 5, 10, 17, 25, and 30 min. Following baking, samples were rapidly cooled and analyzed for Salmonella and L. monocytogenes by the pour plate method. Uninoculated samples were analyzed for total viable aerobic plate count (APC) and Enterobacteriaceae counts. Water activity analysis was also performed. The experiment was replicated three times. Nonlinear regression was used to estimate the baking times required to achieve a minimum of 4- and 5-log reduction in APC, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes. A 4- and 5-log reduction in APC was predicted following a treatment at 350°F for 3.3 and 5.6 min in WW pita chip product, respectively. Following a treatment of 350°F for 10 and 25 min, Enterobacteriaceae and APC counts were below the detection limit (<1 log CFU/g), respectively, in all of the PB-filled pretzel samples. Salmonella and L. monocytogenes counts decreased with increasing baking time regardless of the temperature used. Significant reductions (≥5-log reduction) were estimated in Salmonella and L. monocytogenes in product baked at 350°F for 15.5 and 17.5 min in WW pita chip dough and PB-filled pretzel dough, respectively. Both pathogens were below the detection limit (<1 log CFU/g) in PB-filled pretzel and WW pita chip products under baking conditions of 350°F for 25 and 30 min, respectively. This study demonstrates that PB-filled pretzel and WW pita chip products, when baked to saleable quality, will not present a public health risk from the standpoint of Salmonella or L. monocytogenes.

2006 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1322-1327 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. AL-HOLY ◽  
H. AL-QADIRI ◽  
M. LIN ◽  
B. RASCO

The effect of nisin or citric acid or combinations of these two inhibitors on the inactivation of a cocktail of three Listeria innocua strains was investigated in a model brain heart infusion (BHI) broth and hummus (chickpea dip). In BHI broth, citric acid had a limited ability to inhibit L. innocua growth. Nisin initially reduced L. innocua concentrations by about 3 log cycles; however, L. innocua reached concentrations similar to those of the control after 5 days at 22°C. In combination, the effects of 500 IU/ml nisin and 0.2% citric acid were synergistic and resulted in complete elimination of L. innocua in the BHI broth. The inhibition of L. innocua by nisin (500 or 1,000 IU/g), citric acid (0.1, 0.2, or 0.3%), or their combinations also was evaluated in hummus. Citric acid alone did not affect L. innocua growth or the aerobic bacterial plate count. A combination of 1,000 IU/g nisin and 0.3% citric acid was somewhat effective (∼1.5-log reduction) in controlling the concentration of L. innocua and the aerobic plate count for up to 6 days. This combination also may be useful, in addition to proper hygienic practices, for minimizing the growth of the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in hummus.


1978 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 692-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN T. FRUIN ◽  
JAMES F. FOSTER ◽  
JAMES L. FOWLER

Bologna products most frequently are stored and consumed as refrigerated products. Thus bacteria that survive processing or those that contaminate the product subsequent to processing are not destroyed. Ten types of presliced, vacuum-packaged bologna products were purchased from a high-volume retail market and analyzed for total aerobic plate count (APC) and common foodborne pathogens. No Salmonella were isolated. Less than 1% of the 419 samples analyzed contained either Clostridium perfringens or Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 4% of the samples, but only one sample contained more than 1000/g. Just over 5% of the samples contained coliform organisms. The manufacturer appeared to play an important role in bacterial quality of the finished items. An APC < 5 × 106/g is a realistic criterion for bologna products at the time of delivery to retail markets.


2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 691-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
HAMZAH AL-QADIRI ◽  
SHYAM S. SABLANI ◽  
MAHMOUDREZA OVISSIPOUR ◽  
NIVIN AL-ALAMI ◽  
BYJU GOVINDAN ◽  
...  

This study investigated the growth and survival of three foodborne pathogens (Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter jejuni, and Listeria monocytogenes) in beef (7% fat) and nutrient broth under different oxygen levels. Samples were tested under anoxic (<0.5%), microoxic (6 to 8%), and oxic (20%) conditions during storage at 7°C for 14 days and at 22°C for 5 days. Two initial inoculum concentrations were used (1 and 2 log CFU per g of beef or per ml of broth). The results show that C. perfringens could grow in beef at 22°C, with an increase of approximately 5 log under anoxic conditions and a 1-log increase under microoxic conditions. However, C. perfringens could not survive in beef held at 7°C under microoxic and oxic storage conditions after 14 days. In an anoxic environment, C. perfringens survived in beef samples held at 7°C, with a 1-log reduction. A cell decline was observed at 2 log under these conditions, with no surviving cells at the 1-log level. However, the results show that C. jejuni under microoxic conditions survived with declining cell numbers. Significant increases in L. monocytogenes (5 to 7 log) were observed in beef held at 22°C for 5 days, with the lowest levels recovered under anoxic conditions. L. monocytogenes in refrigerated storage increased by a factor of 2 to 4 log. It showed the greatest growth under oxic conditions, with significant growth under anoxic conditions. These findings can be used to enhance food safety in vacuum-packed and modified atmosphere–packaged food products.


2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 1467-1471 ◽  
Author(s):  
EMEFA ANGELICA MONU ◽  
MALCOND VALLADARES ◽  
DORIS H. D'SOUZA ◽  
P. MICHAEL DAVIDSON

Produce has been associated with a rising number of foodborne illness outbreaks. While much produce is consumed raw, some is treated with mild heat, such as blanching or cooking. The objectives of this research were to compare the thermal inactivation kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7, and non-O157 STEC in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.2) and a spinach homogenate and to provide an estimate of the safety of mild heat processes for spinach. Five individual strains of S. enterica, L. monocytogenes, STEC O157:H7, and non-O157 STEC were tested in PBS in 2-ml glass vials, and cocktails of the organisms were tested in blended spinach in vacuum-sealed bags. For Listeria and Salmonella at 56 to 60°C, D-values in PBS ranged from 4.42 ± 0.94 to 0.35 ± 0.03 min and 2.11 ± 0.14 to 0.16 ± 0.03 min, respectively. D-values at 54 to 58°C were 5.18 ± 0.21 to 0.53 ± 0.04 min for STEC O157:H7 and 5.01 ± 0.60 to 0.60 ± 0.13 min for non-O157 STEC. In spinach at 56 to 60°C, Listeria D-values were 11.77 ± 2.18 to 1.22 ± 0.12 min and Salmonella D-values were 3.51 ± 0.06 to 0.47 ± 0.06 min. D-values for STEC O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC were 7.21 ± 0.17 to 1.07 ± 0.11 min and 5.57 ± 0.38 to 0.99 ± 0.07 min, respectively, at 56 to 60°C. In spinach, z-values were 4.07 ± 0.16, 4.59 ± 0.26, 4.80 ± 0.92, and 5.22 ± 0.20°C for Listeria, Salmonella, STEC O157:H7, and non-O157 STEC, respectively. Results indicated that a mild thermal treatment of blended spinach at 70°C for less than 1 min would result in a 6-log reduction of all pathogens tested. These findings may assist the food industry in the design of suitable mild thermal processes to ensure food safety.


Author(s):  
Zhujun Gao ◽  
Qiao Ding ◽  
Chongtao Ge ◽  
Robert C. Baker ◽  
Rohan V. Tikekar ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT While high temperature heat treatments can efficiently reduce pathogen levels, they also affect the quality and nutritional profile of foods, as well as increase the cost of processing. The food additive butyl para-hydroxybenzoate (BPB) was investigated for its potential to synergistically enhance the thermal inactivation at mild heating temperatures (54 – 58 ºC). Four foodborne pathogenic bacteria, Cronobacter sakazakii , Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium, attenuated Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes, were cultured to early stationary phase and then subjected to mild heating in a model food matrix (Brain Heart Infusion) containing low levels BPB (≤ 125 ppm). The heating temperature used with each bacterium was selected based on the temperature that would yield an approximate 1 – 2 log reduction over 15 min heating in BHI without BPB using a submerged coil apparatus. The inclusion of BPB at concentrations ≤ 125 ppm resulted in significant enhancement of thermal inactivation, achieving 5 – > 6 log reductions of the Gram-negative strains and D-values of < 100 sec. Listeria monocytogenes achieved at 3 – 4 log reduction with a similar treatment. No significant inactivation was noted in the absence of the mild heating for the same time period. This study provides an additional proof of concept that low temperature inactivation of foodborne pathogens can be realized by synergistic enhancement of thermal inactivation by food components that affect microbial cell membranes.


2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 2453-2460 ◽  
Author(s):  
XUETONG FAN ◽  
BASSAM A. ANNOUS ◽  
LINDSEY A. KESKINEN ◽  
JAMES P. MATTHEIS

Whole cantaloupes either not inoculated or inoculated with Salmonella Poona were submerged in water, 180 ppm of chlorine, acidified calcium sulfate (ACS: 1.2% Safe2O-ACS50), 1,000 ppm of acidified sodium chlorite (ASC), 80 ppm of peroxyacetic acid (PAA), and a combination of ACS and PAA for 10 min. Although only ASC and the combination of ACS and PAA significantly reduced the aerobic plate count of samples taken from the surface of whole cantaloupe (compared with samples taken from cantaloupe submerged in water only), all treatments reduced yeast and mold counts on the whole cantaloupe. However, none of the treatments of whole cantaloupes consistently reduced yeast and mold counts for the samples of fresh-cut cantaloupes. The aerobic plate counts for fresh-cut cantaloupe were reduced by 1 to 2 log CFU/g by sanitization of whole fruit with ASC, ACS, and the combination of ACS and PAA. The low bacterial population on the fresh-cut fruit was maintained during 14 days of storage at 4°C. All treatments had a limited effect on the population of Salmonella, achieving no more than a 1.5-log reduction of the pathogen inoculated on the surface of the whole cantaloupes. Salmonella was nondetectable via direct plating (with a detection limit of 0.4 log CFU/g) in fresh-cut cantaloupes prepared from whole cantaloupes treated with any of the sanitizers. However, after enrichment, Salmonella often was detectable. Color, texture, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid, and drip loss of cut cantaloupes were not consistently affected by any of the whole-fruit treatments. Overall, treatments of whole cantaloupe with ASC, ACS, and the combination of ACS and PAA at the concentrations tested permitted a significant reduction in Salmonella and native microflora of whole and cut fruit; however, Salmonella still could be found in cut cantaloupes from all treatments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Theofel ◽  
Thomas R. Williams ◽  
Eduardo Gutierrez ◽  
Gordon R. Davidson ◽  
Michele Jay-Russell ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Over a 2-year period, drag swabs of orchard soil surface and air, soil, and almond leaf samples were collected in an almond orchard adjacent to (35 m from the first row of trees) and downwind from a poultry operation and in two almond orchards (controls) that were surrounded by other orchards. Samples were evaluated for aerobic plate count, generic Escherichia coli, other coliforms, the presence of Salmonella, bacterial community structure (analyzed through sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene), and amounts of dry solids (dust) on leaf surfaces on trees 0, 60, and 120 m into each orchard. E. coli was isolated from 41 of 206 (20%) and 1 of 207 (0.48%) air samples in the almond-poultry and control orchards, respectively. Salmonella was not isolated from any of the 529 samples evaluated. On average, the amount of dry solids on leaves collected from trees closest to the poultry operation was more than 2-fold greater than from trees 120 m into the orchard or from any of the trees in the control orchards. Members of the family Staphylococcaceae—often associated with poultry—were, on average, significantly (P < 0.001) more abundant in the phyllosphere of trees closest to the poultry operation (10% of relative abundance) than in trees 120 m into the orchard (1.7% relative abundance) or from any of the trees in control orchards (0.41% relative abundance). Poultry-associated microorganisms from a commercial operation transferred a short distance into an adjacent downwind almond orchard. IMPORTANCE The movement of microorganisms, including foodborne pathogens, from animal operations into adjacent plant crop-growing environments is not well characterized. This study provides evidence that dust and bioaerosols moved from a commercial poultry operation a short distance downwind into an almond orchard and altered the microbiome recovered from the leaves. These data provide growers with information they can use to assess food safety risks on their property.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (21) ◽  
pp. 4611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Sophie Hascoët ◽  
Carolina Ripolles-Avila ◽  
Alfons Eduard Guerrero-Navarro ◽  
José Juan Rodríguez-Jerez

There is a whole community of microorganisms capable of surviving the cleaning and disinfection processes in the food industry. These persistent microorganisms can enhance or inhibit biofilm formation and the proliferation of foodborne pathogens. Cleaning and disinfection protocols will never reduce the contamination load to 0; however, it is crucial to know which resident species are present and the risk they represent to pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, as they can be further used as a complementary control strategy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resident surface microbiota in an Iberian pig processing plant after carrying out the cleaning and disinfection processes. To do so, surface sensors were implemented, sampled, and evaluated by culture plate count. Further, isolated microorganisms were identified through biochemical tests. The results show that the surfaces are dominated by Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp., different enterobacteria, Mannheimia haemolytica, Rhizobium radiobacter, Staphylococcus spp., Aeromonas spp., lactic acid bacteria, and yeasts and molds. Moreover, their probable relationship with the presence of L. monocytogenes in three areas of the plant is also explained. Further studies of the resident microbiota and their interaction with pathogens such as L. monocytogenes are required. New control strategies that promote the most advantageous profile of microorganisms in the resident microbiota could be a possible alternative for pathogen control in the food industry. To this end, the understanding of the resident microbiota on the surfaces of the food industry and its relation with pathogen presence is crucial.


2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (7) ◽  
pp. 1380-1386 ◽  
Author(s):  
DO-KYUN KIM ◽  
SOO-JI KIM ◽  
DONG-HYUN KANG

This study was undertaken to compare the effect of the spindle and stomacher for detaching microorganisms from fresh vegetables. The spindle is an apparatus for detaching microorganisms from food surfaces, which was developed in our laboratory. When processed with the spindle, food samples were barely disrupted, the original shape was maintained, and the diluent was clear, facilitating further detection analysis more easily than with stomacher treatment. The four-section spindle consists of four sample bag containers (A, B, C, and D) to economize time and effort by simultaneously processing four samples. The aerobic plate counts (APC) of 50 fresh vegetable samples were measured following spindle and stomacher treatment. Correlations between the two methods for each section of the spindle and stomacher were very high (R2 = 0.9828 [spindle compartment A; Sp A], 0.9855 [Sp B], 0.9848 [Sp C], and 0.9851 [Sp D]). One-tenth milliliter of foodborne pathogens suspensions was inoculated onto surfaces of food samples, and ratios of spindle-to-stomacher enumerations were close to 1.00 log CFU/g between every section of the spindle and stomacher. One of the greatest features of the spindle is that it can treat large-sized samples that exceed 200 g. Uncut whole apples, green peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes were processed by the spindle and by hand massaging by 2 min. Large-sized samples were also assayed for aerobic plate count and recovery of the three foodborne pathogens, and the difference between each section of the spindle and hand massaging was not significant (P &gt; 0.05). This study demonstrated that the spindle apparatus can be an alternative device for detaching microorganisms from all fresh vegetable samples for microbiological analysis by the food processing industry.


2014 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 2129-2132 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARK E. BERRANG ◽  
CHARLES L. HOFACRE ◽  
JOSEPH F. FRANK

Listeria monocytogenes can colonize a poultry processing plant as a resident in floor drains. Limiting growth and attachment to drain surfaces may help lessen the potential for cross-contamination of product. The objective of this study was to compare a hydrogen peroxide-peroxyacetic acid–based chemical to chitosan-arginine or heat to prevent attachment of or destroy existing L. monocytogenes on the inner surface of model floor drains. L. monocytogenes was introduced to result in about 109 planktonic and attached cells within untreated polyvinyl chloride model drain pipes. Treatments (0.13% peroxide-based sanitizer, 0.1% chitosan-arginine, or 15 s of hot water at 95 to 100°C) were applied immediately after inoculation or after 24 h of incubation. Following treatment, all pipes were incubated for an additional 24 h; planktonic and attached cells were enumerated by plate count. All treatments significantly (P &lt; 0.05) lowered numbers of planktonic and attached cells recovered. Chitosan-arginine resulted in approximately a 6-log reduction in planktonic cells when applied prior to incubation and a 3-log reduction after the inoculum had a chance to grow. Both heat and peroxide significantly outperformed chitosan-arginine (8- to 9-log reduction) and were equally effective before and after incubation. Heat was the only treatment that eliminated planktonic L. monocytogenes. All treatments were less effective against attached cells. Chitosan-arginine provided about a 4.5-log decrease in attached cells when applied before incubation and no significant decrease when applied after growth. Like with planktonic cells, peroxide–peroxyacetic acid and heat were equally effective before or after incubation, causing decreases ranging from 7 to 8.5 log for attached L. monocytogenes. Applied at the most efficacious time, any of these techniques may lessen the potential for L. monocytogenes to remain as a long-term resident in processing plant floor drains.


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