Radiation preservation of vacuum-packaged sliced corned beef

Luncheon meats are cooked meat products which are commonly sold sliced and vacuum-packaged. They are recontaminated during slicing and packing and as a result may have a starting count as high as 10⁴–10⁵ bacteria per g. Since the surface-to-volume ratio is comparatively high, bacterial spoilage may occur after only 2–3 weeks at 5° C. Treatment of vacuum-packaged sliced corned beef with radiation doses of about 1, 2 and 4 kGy reduced the initial microbial count by about 1, 2.5 and 5 log₁₀ units respectively. The treatments caused changes in the aroma and flavour of the meat and these were evaluated using a trained taste panel. Changes in aroma and flavour caused by doses of 2 and 4 kGy were significant but were rated by the panel as only slight and slight-moderate respectively. Meat treated with a dose of 2 kGy had a storage life of about 5 weeks at 5° C. Treatment with a 4 kGy dose further delayed the onset of spoilage caused by bacterial growth, Irradiation caused a change in the nature of the microbial flora present at spoilage. The normal Gram-positive flora of non-irradiated meat was replaced by a mixed flora of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria following a dose of 2 kGy. Slow-growing Gram-negative rods were dominant after a dose of 4 kGy.     

Microbial inactivation after high-pressure processing at 600 MPa in commercial meat products over its shelf life

The behaviour of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms was evaluated after high-pressure treatment (600 MPa 6 min, 31 °C) and during chilled storage at 4 °C for up to 120 days of commercial meat products. The objective was to determine if this pressure treatment is a valid process to reduce the safety risks associated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, and if it effectively avoids or delays the growth of spoilage microorganisms during the chilled storage time evaluated. The meat products covered by this study were cooked meat products (sliced cooked ham, pH 6.25, a_w 0.978), dry cured meat products (sliced dry cured ham, pH 5.81, a_w 0.890), and raw marinated meats (sliced marinated beef loin, pH 5.88, a_w 0.985). HPP at 600 MPa for 6 min was an efficient method for avoiding the growth of yeasts and Enterobacteriaceae with a potential to produce off-flavours and for delaying the growth of lactic acid bacteria as spoilage microorganisms. HPP reduced the safety risks associated with Salmonella and L. monocytogenes in sliced marinated beef loin.     

The spoilage microflora of cured, cooked turkey breasts prepared commercially with or without smoking

Lactobacillus sakei subsp. carnosus was predominant in the spoilage flora of sliced, vacuum-packed, smoked, oven-cooked turkey breast fillets which developed mild, sour spoilage flavors after 4 weeks storage at 4 degrees C. In contrast, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides predominated in the spoilage flora of sliced, vacuum-packed, unsmoked, boiled turkey breast fillets from the same plant which were also stored at 4 degrees C. The spoilage flora of the unsmoked breasts grew faster than that of the smoked breasts and was more diverse. Lactobacillus sakei, Weissella viridescens and an atypical group of leuconostoc-like bacteria were also members of the unsmoked turkey breasts flora. Consequently, the unsmoked breasts spoiled after 2 weeks at 4 degrees C: the packs swelled and the meat developed strong sour odors and flavors and abundant slime. Except for the unidentified leuconostocs, which apparently survived boiling of the unsmoked turkey, all the spoilage organisms contaminated the meats during the slicing and vacuum packaging operations. From their biochemical reactions and cellular fatty acid profiles, the atypical leuconostocs were more closely related to Leuconostoc carnosum than W. viridescens. Carnobacteria and Brochothrix thermosphacta were present in relatively large numbers on the raw turkey, but were not numerous in the spoilage flora of the cooked, vacuum-packed meat products.     

Growth ofListeria monocytogeneson sliced cooked meat products

During the shelf life (4–6 weeks) of artificially contaminated sliced cooked meat products such as luncheon meat, ham and chicken breast, the growth ofListeria monocytogenesunder vacuum was similar to the growth under modified atmosphere (30% CO₂/70% N₂) packaged products. The presence of competitors (lactobacilli), even in concentrations 100 times those ofL. monocytogenes, only slightly inhibited growth of this pathogen. At the end of the shelf life levels were still 10⁷cfug⁻¹. Due to the lower initial contamination, levels in naturally contaminated products were about 10⁴cfug⁻¹. To prevent outgrowth ofL. monocytogenesto such high levels it is necessary to prevent recontamination during slicing and packaging, and to shorten the rather long shelf life of these products. Due to the low pH of fermented sausage (saveloy) and (raw) Coburger ham the numbers ofL. monocytogenesdecreased below the detection level.     

Efficacy of pulsed light for shelf-life extension and inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes on ready-to-eat cooked meat products

Pulsed light (PL) was tested for its utility to improve the microbial quality and safety of ready-to-eat cooked meat products. Vacuum-packaged ham and bologna slices were superficially inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes and treated with 0.7, 2.1, 4.2 and 8.4 J/cm². PL treatment at 8.4 J/cm² reduced L. monocytogenes by 1.78 cfu/cm² in cooked ham and by 1.11 cfu/cm² in bologna. The effect of PL on lipid oxidation and sensory properties was also investigated. The 2-thiobarbituric acid values were very low and chromaticity parameters were within the normal values reported for cooked meat products. PL at 8.4 J/cm² did not affect the sensory quality of cooked ham, while treatments above 2.1 J/cm² negatively influenced the sensory properties of bologna. The combination of PL and vacuum packaging provided ham with an additional shelf-life extension of 30 days compared with only vacuum packaging. The shelf-life of bologna was not extended by PL.

Industrial relevance

The efficacy of pulsed light for the decontamination of surfaces offers excellent possibilities to ensure food safety and to extend shelf-life of ready-to-eat (RTE) products. The results of this study indicate that Listeria monocytogenes can be reduced by approximately 2 log cfu/cm² in RTE cooked ham and 1 log cfu/cm² in bologna using a fluence of 8.4 J/cm². This dose does not affect the sensory properties of ham and triples its shelf-life when compared with conventional RTE products. On the contrary, fluences above 2.1 J/cm² are not suitable for the treatment of bologna since sensory quality is modified.     

Cross-contamination between processing equipment and deli meats by Listeria monocytogenes

Contamination of luncheon meats by Listeria monocytogenes has resulted in outbreaks of listeriosis and major product recalls. Listeriae can survive on processing equipment such as meat slicers which serve as a potential contamination source. This study was conducted to determine (i) the dynamics of cross-contamination of L. monocytogenes from a commercial slicer and associated equipment onto sliced meat products, (ii) the influence of sample size on the efficacy of the BAX-PCR and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Food Safety and Inspection Service enrichment culture assays to detect L. monocytogenes on deli meat, and (iii) the fate of L. monocytogenes on sliced deli meats of different types during refrigerated storage. Three types of deli meats, uncured oven-roasted turkey, salami, and bologna containing sodium diacetate and potassium lactate, were tested. A five-strain mixture of L. monocytogenes was inoculated at ca.10(3) CFU onto the blade of a commercial slicer. Five consecutive meat slices were packed per package, then vacuum sealed, stored at 4 degrees C, and sampled at 1 and 30 days postslicing. Two sample sizes, 25 g and contents of the entire package of meat, were assayed. Total numbers of L. monocytogenes-positive samples, including the two sample sizes and two sampling times, were 80, 9, and 3 for turkey, salami, and bologna, respectively. A higher percentage of turkey meat samples were L. monocytogenes positive when contents of the entire package were assayed than when the 25-g sample was assayed (12.5 and 7.5%, respectively). Lower inoculum populations of ca. 10(1) or 10(2) CFU of L. monocytogenes on the slicer blade were used for an additional evaluation of oven-roasted turkey using two additional sampling times of 60 and 90 days postslicing. L. monocytogenes-positive samples were not detected until 60 days postslicing, and more positive samples were detected at 90 days than at 60 days postslicing. When BAX-PCR and enrichment culture assays were compared, 12, 8, and 2 L. monocytogenes-positive samples were detected by both the enrichment culture and BAX-PCR, BAX-PCR only, and enrichment culture only assays, respectively. The number of L. monocytogenes-positive samples and L. monocytogenes counts increased during storage of turkey meat but decreased for salami and bologna. Significantly more turkey samples were L. monocytogenes positive when the contents of the entire package were sampled than when 25 g was sampled. Our results indicate that L. monocytogenes can be transferred from a contaminated slicer onto meats and can survive or grow better on uncured oven-roasted turkey than on salami or bologna with preservatives. Higher L. monocytogenes cell numbers inoculated on the slicer blade resulted in more L. monocytogenes-positive sliced meat samples. In addition, the BAX-PCR assay was better than the enrichment culture assay at detecting L. monocytogenes on turkey meat (P < 0.05).     

Effective use of nisin to control lactic acid bacterial spoilage in vacuum-packed bologna-type sausage.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) commonly cause spoilage in minimal heat-treated vacuum-packed cured delicatessen meats. Predominant species are Lactobacillus sake and L. curvatus. LAB strains isolated from spoiled products of this type (liver sausage, ham and bologna sausage) were found to be sensitive to low nisin concentrations (maximum of 1.25 microg g(-1)). Addition of 25 microg g(-1) nisin (as Nisaplin) inhibited the growth of LAB spoilage organisms inoculated into vacuum-packed pasteurized bologna-type sausages stored at 8 degrees C. Control sausages became spoiled (>10(8) LAB CFU g(-1)) by day 7, whereas sausages containing nisin remained unspoiled for >50 days. The effect of three types of phosphates (used as emulsifiers) on nisin activity in the sausages was compared. LAB growth rate was fastest in samples containing orthophosphate, and slowest in sausages containing diphosphate. The shelf life was also greatly extended in the latter. Fat content also affected nisin activity. Nisin activity (as indicated by LAB inhibition) was greatest in samples containing 15% > 25% > 37% (wt/wt) fat. In a sausage formulation containing 37% fat and incorporating diphosphate as emulsifier, levels of nisin as low as 2.5 microg g(-1) showed antibacterial effects. A nisin level of 6.25 microg g(-1) totally inhibited LAB growth for over 4 weeks and 25 microg g(-1) for 5 weeks. Spoilage control was achieved in the same sausage formulation but with 25% (wt/wt) fat; 12.5 microg g(-1) nisin prevented LAB growth for 5 weeks.     

Industrial application of an antilisterial strain of Lactobacillus sakei as a protective culture and its effect on the sensory acceptability of cooked, sliced, vacuum-packaged meats.

The application of a protective lactic acid bacterium (LAB) during the commercial production of cooked meat products is described. The LAB, a strain of Lactobacillus sakei, was previously isolated from cooked ham and inhibited growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in this product. L. sakei was applied to the cooked products at a concentration of 10(5)-10(6) cfu/g immediately before slicing and vacuum-packaging using a hand-operated spraying bottle. The LAB strain inhibited growth of 10(3) cfu/g of a cocktail of three rifampicin resistant mutant L. monocytogenes strains both at 8 degrees C and 4 degrees C. Consumer acceptance tests of cooked ham and of servelat sausage, a Norwegian non-fermented cooked meat sausage, showed that control and inoculated products were equally acceptable. The products were still acceptable after storage for 28 days at 4 degrees C and, after opening the packages, for a further 5 days at 4 degrees C. The findings presented here confirm that the L. sakei strain is suitable for use as a protective culture and may technically easily be implemented in the commercial production of cooked meat products.     

Evaluation of hygiene practices and microbiological quality of cooked meat products during slicing and handling at retail

Cooked meat ready-to-eat products are recognized to be contaminated during slicing which, in the last years, has been associated with several outbreaks. This work aimed to find out possible relation between the hygiene practice taking place at retail point during slicing of cooked meat products in small and medium-sized establishments (SMEs) and large-sized establishments (LEs) and the microbiological quality of sliced cooked meat products. For that, a checklist was drawn up and filled in based on scoring handling practice during slicing in different establishments in Cordoba (Southern Spain). In addition, sliced cooked meats were analyzed for different microbiological indicators and investigated for the presence of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. Results indicated that SMEs showed a more deficient handling practices compared to LEs. In spite of these differences, microbiological counts indicated similar microbiological quality in cooked meat samples for both types of establishments. On the other hand, Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria inocua were isolated from 7.35% (5/68) and 8.82% (6/68) of analyzed samples, respectively. Positive samples for Listeria spp. were found in establishments which showed acceptable hygiene levels, though contamination could be associated to the lack of exclusiveness of slicers at retail points. Moreover, Listeria spp presence could not be statistically linked to any microbiological parameters; however, it was observed that seasonality influenced significantly (P < 0.05) L. monocytogenes presence, being all samples found during warm season (5/5). As a conclusion, results suggested that more effort should be made to adequately educate handlers in food hygiene practices, focused specially on SMEs.     

Selective effect of the product type and the packaging conditions on the species of lactic acid bacteria dominating the spoilage microbial association of cooked meats at 4°C

The product type was shown to strongly affect the growth rate and the composition of the spoilage lactic flora during refrigerated (4°C) storage of cooked, cured meats, sharing their processing plant environment, day of production and film packaging conditions. Growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) under vacuum was more prolific on the product in the order: ham>turkey breast fillet>smoked pork loin>pariza>mortadella>bacon, and ham>frankfurters, manufactured in two industrial meat plants A and B, respectively. The Lactobacillus sakei/curvatus group prevailed in all products, except the non-smoked, boiled whole-meats, i.e. cooked ham and turkey breast fillet, where Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp.mesenteroides predominated. Lactobacillus sakei was by far the most prevalent species in smoked whole-meats, i.e. pork loin and bacon. Emulsion sausages, i.e. pariza, mortadella and frankfurters, contained a more diverse lactic flora.Leuconostoc carnosum and Lc. citreum occurred in boiled, whole-meats and emulsion sausages, respectively.Weissella viridescens was isolated from smoked meat products only. A very good correlation between the LAB growth and types and important intrinsic factors, such as the product pH, moisture, salt (brine) concentration and cooking method could be observed. When ham and frankfurters from plant B were stored in air, yeasts and mainly Brochothrix thermosphacta became important members of the spoilage association. Growth of LAB was faster in air. The presence of oxygen resulted in a replacement ofLc. mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides by other Leuconostoc spp. in ham, and in a shift of the spoilage flora from homo- to heterofermentative LAB species in frankfurters.     

Protective cultures inhibit growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cooked, sliced, vacuum- and gas-packaged meat

Contamination of cooked meat products with Listeria monocytogenes poses a constant threat to the meat industry. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the use of indigenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as protective cultures in cooked meat products. Cooked, sliced, vacuum- or gas-packaged ham and servelat sausage from nine meat factories in Norway were inoculated with 10(3) cfu/g of a mixture of three rifampicin resistant (rif-mutant) strains of L. monocytogenes and stored at 8 degrees C for four weeks. Growth of L. monocytogenes and indigenous lactic acid flora was followed throughout the storage period. LAB were isolated from samples where L. monocytogenes failed to grow. Five different strains growing well at 3 degrees C. pH 6.2, with 3% NaCl, and producing moderate amounts of acid were selected for challenge experiments with the rif-resistant strains of L. monocytogenes. a nalidixic acid/streptomycin sulphate-resistant strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and a mixture of three rif-resistant strains of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3. All five LAB strains inhibited growth of both L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7. No inhibition of Y. enterocolitica O:3 was observed. A professional taste panel evaluated cooked, sliced, vacuum-packaged ham inoculated with each of the five test strains after storage for 21 days at 8 degrees C. All samples had acceptable sensory properties. The five LAB strains hybridised to a 23S rRNA oligonucleotide probe specific for Lactobacillus sakei. These indigenous LAB may be used as protective cultures to inhibit growth of L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 in cooked meat products.     

The effects of high pressure treatment and of storage periods on the quality of vacuum-packed “salchichón” made of raw material enriched in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids

This study investigates the effects of high-pressure processing on the microbiological, physico-chemical and sensory properties of 3 fermented Spanish dry sausages (salchichón), all high in unsaturated fatty acids. The products, manufactured from the sausage meat and back fat of pigs fed on high-oleic and high-linoleic diets and a control diet, were vacuum-packed prior to high hydrostatic pressure (HPP) treatment (500 MPa, 5 min), and storage at 6 °C for up to 210 days. High-pressure treatment slightly inhibited certain microorganisms, especially yeasts and moulds, and psychotrophic and anaerobic bacteria. Consequentially, microbial counts fell, although injured microorganisms recovered during storage except in the case of the high-linoleic salchichón, in which they remained inactive causing it to register the lowest counts. High-pressure treatment had no noticeable effect on the physico-chemical and sensory properties of the three samples suggesting that it improves the food safety of salchichón with no detrimental effects on organoleptic properties.Industrial relevanceThe problem of safe preservation is increasingly complex for the meat industry as today's products require longer shelf lives and greater assurance of protection from microbial spoilage. High pressure processing is finding increased use in products such as sliced cured meats, where microbial contamination can occur during the slicing process and develop over storage. This study evaluates the microbiological, physicochemical and sensory characteristics of vacuum-packed slices of dry fermented sausage – control (CO), high oleic (HO), and high linoleic (HL) salchichón samples – following high pressure treatment and subsequent chilled storage, contributing thereby to the growing body of knowledge on this new food preservation technology, which produces microbiologically safe food products with long shelf lives, whilst retaining high nutritional and sensory qualities.     

Inhibition of potential food poisoning microorganisms by sorbic acid in cooked, uncured, vacuum packaged turkey products

Vacuum packaged, oven-roasted turkey breasts and sliced turkey breast luncheon meat were prepared with and without potassium sorbate or sorbic acid. Control and treated products were inoculated with one of the following organisms: Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus , or enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. The samples were vacuum packed and stored at 15°C for 10 days. The addition of 0.25% sorbate to the breasts and 0.12% sorbic acid in the slices provided excellent protection against the growth of Salmonella, E. coli , and S. aureus in uncured, cooked, vacuum packaged turkey.     

Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes in turkey and pork-beef bologna by combinations of sorbate, benzoate, and propionate

The control of Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated with ready-to-eat uncured turkey and cured pork-beef bologna with combinations of benzoate, propionate, and sorbate. Three treatments of each product type were formulated to include control with no antimycotic agents; a combination of 0.05% sodium benzoate and 0.05% sodium propionate; and a combination of 0.05% sodium benzoate and 0.05% potassium sorbate. Ingredients were mixed, stuffed into fibrous, moisture-impermeable casings, cooked to an internal temperature of 73.9 degrees C, chilled, and sliced. The final product was surface inoculated with L. monocytogenes (4 log CFU per package), vacuum packaged, and stored at 4 degrees C for 13 weeks. The antimycotic addition to the second and third uncured turkey treatments initially slowed the pathogen growth rate compared with the control, but populations of L. monocytogenes increased 5 log or more by 6 weeks. In contrast, the addition of antimycotic combinations in the cured bologna prevented growth of L. monocytogenes during the 13-week storage period at 4 degrees C, compared with a more than 3.5-log increase in listerial populations in the control bologna, to which no antimicrobial agents had been added. These data suggest that low concentrations of antimycotic agents can prevent L. monocytogenes growth in certain ready-to-eat meats. Additional research is needed to define the levels needed to prevent growth of L. monocytogenes in high-moisture cured and uncured ready-to-eat meat and poultry and for gaining governmental approval for their use in such formulations.     

Effect of Spray Drying Encapsulation of Thermotolerant Lactic Acid Bacteria on Meat Batters Properties

Four thermotolerant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were spray dry encapsulated with Acacia gum and inoculated in cooked meat batters. Physicochemical properties (total moisture content, expressible moisture, and cooking stability), pH and acidity, CIE-Lab color, and texture profile analysis were performed at 1 and 8 days of storage at 4 °C. LAB and Enterobacteria counts were determined at 1, 4, and 8 days of storage. Control treatment was inoculated with the same unencapsulated strains as free cells. Total moisture, water activity, and fat release significantly (p?<?0.05) increased in spray drying inoculated samples, with no change in expressible moisture. No significantly (p?>?0.05) difference in pH and acidity were detected between encapsulated LAB and free cells inoculation. Inoculation of spray dry bacteria significantly (p?<?0.05) decreased samples luminosity and redness, with no change in yellowness. In TPA, hardness and springiness had no significantly (p?>?0.05) change due to inoculation type, but cohesiveness decreased in encapsulated samples. Inoculation of spray-dried LAB enhanced initial LAB count with a concomitant Enterobacteria reduction. These results suggest that the spray drying encapsulation is an effective way to protect thermotolerant lactic bacteria. These capsules can be inoculated in cooked emulsified meat products in order to ensure their survival before, during, and after processing. Thermotolerant LAB could be employed as bioprotective cultures to improve microbial safety in cooked meat products since the Enterobacteria counts were diminished during storage, enhancing the nutritional values with no major detrimental effect on textural or physicochemical properties of these kinds of foodstuffs.     

Diversity of lactic acid bacteria from modified atmosphere packaged sliced cooked meat products at sell-by date assessed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

The predominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) microbiota associated with three types of modified atmosphere packaged (MAP) sliced cooked meat products (i.e. ham, turkey and chicken) was analyzed at sell-by date using a combination of culturing and molecular population fingerprinting. Likewise routine analyses during industrial MAP production, meat samples were plated on the general heterotrophic Plate Count Agar (PCA) and on the LAB-specific de Man, Rogosa, Sharpe (MRS) agar under different temperature and atmosphere conditions. Subsequently, community DNA extracts were prepared from culturable bacterial fractions harvested from both media and used for PCR targeting the V3 hyper-variable region of the 16S rRNA gene followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR amplicons (PCR-DGGE). Irrespective of aerobic or anaerobic incubation conditions, V3-16S rDNA DGGE fingerprints of culturable fractions from PCA and MRS medium displayed a high level of similarity indicating that LAB constituted the most dominant group in the culturable bacterial community. Comparison of DGGE profiles of fractions grown at 20, 28 or 37 °C indicated that part of the culturable community consisted of psychrotrophs. Four DGGE bands were common among cooked ham, turkey and chicken products, suggesting that these represent the microbiota circulating in the plant where all three MAP product types were sliced and packaged. Based on band sequencing and band position analysis using LAB reference strains, these four bands could be assigned to Lactobacillus sakei and/or the closely related Lactobacillus fuchuensis, Lactobacillus curvatus, Carnobacterium divergens and Leuconostoc carnosum. In conclusion, the PCR-DGGE approach described in this study allows to discriminate, identify and monitor core and occasional LAB microbiota of MAP sliced cooked meat products and provides valuable complementary information to the current plating procedures routinely used in industrial plants.     

Technologies and Mechanisms for Safety Control of Ready-to-eat Muscle Foods: An Updated Review

Ready-to-eat (RTE) muscle foods refer to a general category of meat and poultry products that are fully cooked and consumable without reheating. These products, including whole and sliced pork, beef, turkey, chicken, and variety of meats, in the forms of ham, roast, rolls, sausage, and frankfurter, are widely available in the delicatessen section of retail stores or various food service outlets. However, difficulties in avoidance of contamination by foodborne pathogens, notably Listeria monocytogenes, during product postlethality repackaging render RTE meats labile to outbreaks. Accordingly, the USDA-FSIS has established processing guidelines and regulations, which are constantly updated, to minimize foodborne pathogens in RTE products. Technologies that complement good manufacturing practice have been developed to control RTE meat safety. Among them, various antimicrobial product formulations, postpackaging pasteurization (thermal and nonthermal), and antimicrobial packaging are being used. Through these efforts, outbreaks linked to RTE meat consumption have substantially reduced in recent years. However, the pervasive and virulent nature of L. monocytogenes and the possible presence of other cold-tolerant pathogens entail continuing developments of new intervention technologies. This review updates existing and emerging physical and chemical methods and their mode of action to inactivate or inhibit threatening microorganisms in RTE muscle foods.     

Leuconostoc carnosum 4010 has the potential for use as a protective culture for vacuum-packed meats: culture isolation,bacteriocin identification,and meat application experiments

A new culture, Leuconostoc carnosum 4010, for biopreservation of vacuum-packed meats is described. The culture originated from bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) naturally present in vacuum-packed meat products. Approximately, 72,000 colonies were isolated from 48 different vacuum-packed meat products and examined for antibacterial activity. Bacteriocin-producing colonies were isolated from 46% of the packages examined. Leuc. carnosum was the predominant bacteriocin-producing strain and Leuc. carnosum 4010 was selected for further experiments because it showed strong antilisterial activity without producing any undesirable flavour components in meat products. For identification of the bacteriocins produced, partial purification was carried out by ammonium sulphate precipitation, dialysis, and cation exchange chromatography. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed two bands with inhibitory activity corresponding to molecular sizes of 4.6 and 5.3 kDa. N-terminal amino acid sequencing showed that Leuc. carnosum 4010 produced two bacteriocins highly similar or identical to leucocin A and leucocin C. Application experiments showed that the addition of 10(7) cfu/g Leuc. carnosum 4010 to a vacuum-packaged meat sausage immediately reduced the number of viable Listeria monocytogenes cells to a level below the detection limit and no increase of L. monocytogenes was observed during storage at 5 degrees C for 21 days. The results presented demonstrate that Leuc. carnosum 4010 is suitable as a new protective culture for cold-stored, cooked, sliced, and vacuum-packed meat products.     

Radiation Resistance of Listeria monocytogenes in the Presence or Absence of Sodium Erythorbate

ABSTRACT: Listeria monocytogenes is a common contaminant of ready-to-eat meat products that can be eliminated by low dose ionizing radiation. Sodium erythorbate (SE), an antioxidant, is commonly included in cured meat emulsions or applied to the surfaces of cured meats as a solution prior to packaging. The radiation resistance (D_γ) of L. monocytogenes increased when suspended in SE solutions of 0.1% and greater. However, no differences in D_γ, which ranged from 0.67 kGy to 0.70 kGy, were observed when L. monocytogenes was inoculated onto cooked cured meat products (frankfurters or bologna slices) which contained no SE, 0.05% SE in the emulsion, or a 10% SE solution applied to the product surface. Surface antioxidant power of the cured meats did not reach a level sufficient to protect L. monocytogenes against the lethal effects of ionizing radiation. Therefore, the industrial practice of applying SE to the surfaces of cured meat products would not compromise the efficacy of irradiation as an antimicrobial process.     

Antimicrobial and Antioxidative Strategies to Reduce Pathogens and Extend the Shelf Life of Fresh Red Meats

Abstract: The shelf life of packaged fresh red meats is most frequently determined by the activity of microorganisms, which results in the development of off‐odors, gas, and slime, but it is also influenced by biochemical factors such as lipid radical chain and pigment oxidation causing undesirable flavors and surface discoloration. The predominant bacteria associated with spoilage of refrigerated meats are Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter/Moraxella (Psychrobacter), Shewanella putrefaciens, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Brochothrix thermosphacta. The spoilage potential of these organisms and factors influencing their impact on meat quality are discussed. High O₂‐modified atmosphere (80% O₂+ 20% CO₂) packaging (MAP) is commonly used for meat retail display but vacuum packaging remains the major MAP method used for meat distribution. Two‐step master packaging (outer anoxic‐20% CO₂+ 80% N₂/inner gas‐permeable film) is used for centralized MAP distribution, but CO use (0.4%) in low O₂ packaging systems is limited by consumer uncertainty that CO may mask spoilage. Active packaging where the film contributes more than a gas/physical barrier is an important technology and has been studied widely. Its application in combination with MAP is very promising but impediments remain to its widespread industrial use. The influence of processing technologies including modified atmospheres on lipid oxidation and discoloration of meats are analyzed. Because both organic acids and antioxidants have been evaluated for their effects on microorganism growth, in concert with the prevention of lipid oxidation, work in this area is examined.