PREVALENCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF LISTERIA SPECIES IN FOOD PRODUCTS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND

A total of 380 meat and meat products, dairy and dairy products, fresh vegetables, fresh seafood, and ready-to-eat food samples from supermarkets in Bangkok, Thailand were collected and analyzed for the occurrence of Listeria spp. and of Listeria monocytogenes. The overall incidence of Listeria spp. was 16.8%, most of them were isolated from raw meat and vegetables. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 18 (4.7%) out of 380 studied samples. Other species isolated were L. innocua (6.6%), L. ivanovii (0.8%), L. seeligeri (0.5%), L. grayi (1.6%) and L. welshimeri (2.6%). The antimicrobial susceptibilities of the 64 isolate of Listeria spp. were also examined by the standard disk diffusion method. Listeria spp. were resistant to penicillin (6.3%), chloramphenicol (3.1%) and tetracycline (1.6%), but sensitive to amoxicillin, vancomycin, ampicillin, rifampicin and sulfamethoxazole.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Listeria monocytogenes prevalence in food products in Bangkok has been documented. More studies on the occurrence of L. monocytogenes are needed to establish microbiological criteria of foods in the country. The findings of our study, increases in antibiotic resistance among Listeria spp. will provide useful information for the development of public health policy in the use of antimicrobials in food animal production.     

ACCELERATED PROTEOLYSIS OF SOY PROTEINS DURING FERMENTATION OF THUA-NAO INOCULATED WITH BACILLUS SUBTILIS

Thua‐nao is a traditional Thai‐fermented soy product. It was prepared by the conventional method and also with starter inoculation. Inoculated soybean exhibited a higher rate of fermentation than did the natural fermentation as indicated by greater rate of pH increase, higher extent of proteolysis, ammonia‐nitrogen content and nitrogen solubility. Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns indicated the extensive degradation of soy proteins during fermentation. Activity staining of Thua‐nao extract suggested that proteolysis of soybean was mediated by various proteinases. Active proteinases with estimated molecular weight (MW) of 29,000, 27,000 and 19,000 Da were present during natural fermentation of soybeans. However, proteinases with MW of 40,000 and 29,000 Da were predominant in inoculated soybeans and like the activity bands observed with spent culture broth of Bacillus subtilis BIOTEC 7123. The results suggested that proteinases released by the dominant species in the inoculum, especially B. subtilis, play an important role in proteolysis of soy proteins during fermentation. Inoculation with B. subtilis resulted in an increased proteolysis, which is useful for subsequent reactions leading to development of Thua‐nao characteristics.     

CHANGES DURING FERMENTATION AND PROPERTIES OF SOM-FUG PRODUCED FROM DIFFERENT MARINE FISH

ABSTRACT

Microbiological, chemical and physical changes of Som‐fug produced from six marine fish during fermentation were monitored. During the fermentation (0–72 h) at 30C, the increase in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count and total acidity (TA) with the concomitant decrease in pH was observed. After the fermentation was completed, Som‐fug samples contained 1.5–7.9 × 10⁹ cfu/g LAB count and TA ranging from 2.00 to 2.28% with the pH range of 4.53–4.60. Trimethylamine N‐oxide content decreased, whereas trimethylamine content increased throughout the fermentation (P < 0.05). Proteolysis of Som‐fug proteins and lipid oxidation occurred during fermentation. As the fermentation proceeded, hardness, adhesiveness, springiness and cohesiveness of all samples increased, and L*, a*and b*values also increased (P < 0.05). Generally, Som‐fug produced from bigeye snapper showed a greater acceptability than those produced from other species. However, its acceptability was slightly lower than a commercial Som‐fug produced from freshwater fish (P < 0.05).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This research indicates that some marine fish can be used as the raw material for Som‐fug production with the quality almost comparable to those prepared from fresh water fish, which are commercially availalble. Therefore, the improvement of process for Som‐fug production from marine fish should be further conducted to obtain the better quality and higher acceptability. As a consequence, Som‐fug from marine fish with the high nutritive value can become a novel product for the consumers.

     

Functional Properties and Shelf Life of Fresh Surimi from Pacific Whiting

Total aerobic plate count (APC), shear stress, shear strain, and color of fresh Pacific whiting surimi stored at 5°C were determined at day 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7. Frozen surimi was prepared with four levels of cryoprotectams (0, 3, 6, and 9%) and was compared with fresh surimi for gelforming ability. Fresh Pacific whiting surimi had a shelf life of 5 days. The gel functionality remained unchanged throughout the storage time. Strain values of fresh surimi were not different from those of frozen surimi with 9% cryoprotectants, but stress values of fresh surimi were almost three times higher than those of frozen surimi.