The effect of pH,sodium chloride,sucrose, sorbate and benzoate on the growth of food spoilage yeasts

The effects of pH, concentration of NaCl, concentration of sucrose and concentrations of sorbic and benzoic acids on growth were examined for 30 strains of food spoilage yeasts, representingDebaryomyces hansenii, Yarrowia lipolytica, Kloeckera apiculata, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Pichia membranaefaciens, Pichia anomalaandSaccharomyces cerevisiae.Zygosaccharomyces bailiidid not grow at pH 7.0 andZ. rouxii, Kl. apiculataandP. membranaefaciensdid not grow at pH 8.0. OnlyKl. apiculatagrew at pH 1.5–2.0. The remaining species grew at pH 2.5–8.0. None of the species grew at 20% NaCl but strains ofD. hansenii, Z. rouxiiandP. anomalagrew at 15% NaCl.S. cerevisiaeandK. marxianuswere the least salt tolerant, showing no growth at 7.5% NaCl and 10% NaCl, respectively. Medium pH influenced growth in the presence of NaCl. ForY. lipolytica, D. hanseniiandS. cerevisiae, greatest tolerance of NaCl occurred at pH 5.0–7.0, but forKl.apiculata, D. membranaefaciensandZ. bailiibest tolerance occurred at pH 3.0.K. apiculatagrew in the presence of 12.5% NaCl at pH 2.0. All yeasts grew at 50% sucrose, withZ. rouxii, Z. bailiiandP. anomalaandD. hanseniigrowing at 60–70% sucrose. Medium pH in the range 2.0–7.0 had little effect on ability to grow in the presence of high sucrose concentrations.Z. bailiiandY. lipolyticawere the species most tolerant of sorbate and benzoate preservatives (750–1200 mg l⁻¹) at pH 5.0.     

Use of survival analysis and Classification and Regression Trees to model the growth/no growth boundary of spoilage yeasts as affected by alcohol, pH, sucrose, sorbate and temperature

This paper describes the application of a survival analysis model and a Classification and Regression Trees (CART) model to a data set comprising times to growth of a yeast cocktail inoculated into media simulating a fruit-based or alcoholic food or drink, and covering over 900 combinations of five environmental factors (alcohol, pH, sucrose, sorbate and temperature). Growth was determined as either the time to growth within a 150-day time period or as no-growth after 150 days. Models were developed which could either predict the likelihood of growth occurring within the 150 day period, or the time to grow, either in days or in one of three categories chosen to represent a rapid (1-14 days), medium (15-30 days) or slow (31-150 days) growth response. Growth was observed in 29% of the experimental conditions and demonstrated that the yeasts used were able to grow under extreme environmental conditions, for example at a pH value of 2.1, a temperature of 2 degrees C, a sucrose concentration of 55% (w/w) or an alcohol concentration of 12% (w/v). Generally, both models provided a reasonable fit to the data, and successfully predicted the growth class in 84% of cases. Direct comparisons of the models were made to determine the more suitable for predicting the growth of yeasts in food systems. The survival analysis model was preferred for this data set because it was more fail-safe than the CART model. In food validation studies, the survival model generally gave reliable predictions of time to growth in a range of 23 different food and drink products and is considered to be a reliable model to predict the likelihood and speed of yeast spoilage for a range of fruit-based or alcoholic food or drinks.     

The effect of pH on the initiation of growth of cottage cheese spoilage bacteria

The influence of pH on strains of Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacter agglomerans that cause spoilage of cottage cheese varieties during storage at 7 degrees C has been investigated. In a culture medium adjusted to the required pH with HCl, 57 of 64 strains of Pseudomonas spp. grew at pH 4.8 when incubated at 7 degrees C but a very low proportion of strains grew at pH 4.7 or pH 4.6 and none at pH 4.5. At 20 degrees C some of the pseudomonads grew at pH 4.4. Three out of nine strains of E. agglomerans grew at pH 3.8 when incubated at 7 degrees C and at pH 3.6 when incubated at 20 degrees C. In cultures of E. agglomerans at controlled pH and 20 degrees C, after a lag phase the doubling time at pH 4.1 was 2 h, and at pH 7.0 was 1.4 h.     

Characteristics of Bovine Plasma Gels as Affected by pH Sodium Chloride, and Sodium Tripolyphosphate

A model system, which simulated the pH, sodium chloride (NaCl), and alkaline phosphate (STP) levels of typical processed meat products, was used to determine the effect of NaCl, STP and pH on firmness and percent cooked yield of bovine plasma gels. Bovine plasma gel firmness increased with increasing plasma pH, whereas percent cooked yield was not affected. In contrast, when the pH, of the plasma solutions, was adjusted to a constant 5.6 to simulate the pH and buffering of meat, percent cooked yield was affected; gel firmness was not affected. With increased levels of NaCl and STP, the percent cooked plasma gel yield increased.     

The effect of temperature and pH on the growth of lactic acid bacteria: a pH-auxostat study

The growth of Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei was studied in a pH-auxostat. The computer-controlled smooth change of pH or temperature was used to study the effect of pH and temperature on the culture characteristics (specific growth rate mu growth yield Y(ATP) and specific lactate production rate Q(ATP)). The behaviour of mu and Q(ATP) with an increase of temperature suggested that ATP production capacity was an important factor in determining the maximum growth rate of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The decrease of Y(ATP) with increase of temperature resulted in the decrease of specific growth rate while Q(ATP) remained constant or even increased. With the decrease of pH, decrease of both Y(ATP) and Q(ATP) was observed. S. thermophilus St20 having the highest maximum specific growth rate of 2.2 h(-1) at 44 degrees C was the most acid sensitive strain. The L. paracasei E1H3 having the lowest mu(max) was the most tolerant strain to pH change. The behaviour of mixed culture of L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus in milk in a pH-auxostat with pH-decrease was in agreement with the pure culture experiments of the same species. The study showed that pH-auxostat with smooth controlled change of pH and temperature is an effective method for determination of technological characteristics and comparative physiological study of LAB.     

pH and Sodium Chloride Effects on Emulsifying Properties of Egg Yolk Phosvitin

The emulsifying properties of phosvitin dissolved in water and 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 M NaCl were determined from pH 3 to 10. The change in its emulsifying activity (EA) with pH was slight but significant (p<0.05) and emulsion stability (ES) was relatively high (68-73%), except at pH 5 (17%) and 10 (48%). The EA of phosvitin was higher than that of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at pH 3 or 8 and ES was higher than BSA at all pH levels except at pH 5 and 10. Added NaCl decreased in the EA of phosvitin at pH 3 and 10 and decreased the ES between pH 3 and 9. Increased instability of emulsions resulted mainly in coalescence of oil droplets at NaCl ≥ 0.5M. Salt increased the viscosity of phosvitin emulsion only at pH 3 but not at pH > 5. The viscosities of BSA emulsions were higher than those of phosvitin at pH 3, 5 or 8.     

Occurrence and growth of yeasts in processed meat products - Implications for potential spoilage

Spoilage of meat products is in general attributed to bacteria but new processing and storage techniques inhibiting growth of bacteria may provide opportunities for yeasts to dominate the microflora and cause spoilage of the product. With the aim of obtaining a deeper understanding of the potential role of yeast in spoilage of five different processed meat products (bacon, ham, salami and two different liver patés), yeasts were isolated, enumerated and identified during processing, in the final product and in the final product at the end of shelf life. Yeasts were isolated along the bacon production line in numbers up to 4.2 log (CFU/g). Smoking of the bacon reduced the yeast counts to lower than 1.0 log (CFU/g) or non-detectable levels. In general, yeasts were only isolated in low numbers during the production of salami, cooked ham and liver paté. In the final products yeasts were detected in low numbers in a few samples (3 out of 30) samples, 1.0-1.3 log (CFU/g). By the end of storage, yeasts were only detected in 1 out of 25 investigated samples 1.8 log (CFU/g). A combination of phenotypic and genotypic methods was used to identify the yeast microflora present during production of the processed meat products. The yeast microflora was complex with 4-12 different species isolated from the different production sites. In general, Candida zeylanoides, Debaryomyces hansenii and the newly described Candida alimentaria were found to be the dominant yeast species. In addition, three putatively previously undescribed yeast species were isolated. Fourteen isolates, representing seven different species isolated during the production of the processed meat products and one species isolated from spoiled, modified atmosphere packed, sliced ham, were screened for their ability to grow in a meat model substrate under a low oxygen/high carbon-dioxide atmosphere (0.5% O(2), 20% CO(2), 79.5% N(2)) at two different temperatures (5 and 8°C). Eleven out of the tested 14 strains were able to grow in the meat model substrate with C. zeylanoides, D. hansenii, Pichia guilliermondii and Candida sake reaching levels of 10(5)-5×10(6) log (CFU/g), where sensoryical changes appear.     

The effect of a competitive microflora,pH and temperature on the growth kinetics of Escherichia coli O157:H7

Growth curves were generated for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in brain–heart infusion broth incubated at 37 or 15°C in the presence of individual and combinations of competing microflora. Broths were inoculated withE. coli O157:H7 (log₁₀3·00 cfu ml⁻¹) and competitors (log₁₀4·00 cfu ml⁻¹) and the initial pH of the broth was either neutral (7·0) or adjusted to 5·8 and then sequentially reduced to 4·8 over 10 h to simulate fermentation conditions. Growth curves were also generated for the competitors in these cultures, including Pseudomonas fragi, Hafnia alvei, Pediococcus acidilactici (pepperoni starter culture) and Brochothrix thermosphacta . Gompertz equations were fitted to the data and growth kinetics including lag phase duration, exponential growth rates and maximum population densities (MPD) calculated. In pure culture, the growth parameters for E. coli O157:H7 in neutral pH broths were significantly different from those recorded in simulated fermentation broths (P<0·05). The presence of competitors in the broth also had a significant effect on the growth kinetics of the pathogen. H. alvei significantly inhibited the growth (lag phase, growth rate and MPD) of E. coli O157:H7 at 37°C, neutral pH and outgrew the pathogen under these conditions. In neutral pH cultures, two other competitors, B. thermosphacta and P. acidilactici also inhibited the lag phase of the pathogen but had no effect on the other growth parameters. In simulated fermentation broths, the growth rate of E. coli O157:H7 was consistently slower and the MPD lower in the presence of a competitive microflora than when grown individually. At 15°C, only one competitor, P. fragi significantly inhibited the lag phase of the pathogen. The implications of these findings for food safety are discussed.     

Synergistic effects of pH,temperature and glycosylation on the functional properties of rice protein

This study investigated the effects of pH treatment, heat treatment, pH-synergistic heat treatment and glycosylation on the functional properties of rice protein (RP). The results showed that all treatment methods could improve the functional properties of RP. Heat treatment improved functional properties by generating aggregates after RP unfolds, and pH treatment improved those by causing RP to hydrolyse and aggregate. Compared to RP, the solubility, emulsification activity (EA), emulsification stability (ES), foaming activity (FA), surface hydrophobicity and in vitro digestibility of pH-synergistic heat treatment of RP (S-RP) were increased by 11.47, 3.12, 3.45, 2.27, 3.36 and 2.12 times, respectively. Glycosylation mainly improved the functional properties of RP by introducing hydrophilic groups. Compared to those of S-RP, solubility, EA, ES, FA, surface hydrophobicity and in vitro digestibility of RP–dextran conjugates (RPDCs) were increased by 2.03, 1.25, 1.97, 1.05, 1.64 and 1.48 times, respectively. Therefore, compared to glycosylated chemical modification, heat treatment and pH treatment had a weak improvement in the functional properties of RP. The comparison of pH-treated RP (pH-RP) and RP–dextran mixtures (RPDMs) showed that in the absence of heat treatment, carbonyl ammonia condensation almost did not occur.     

pH值、NaCl浓度和加热温度对猪肉匀浆物凝胶质构特性的影响

采用二次通用旋转试验设计,研究了pH值、NaCl浓度和加热温度对猪后腿肉匀浆物热诱导凝胶质构特性的影响。结果表明:不同处理条件对凝胶质构特性的影响存在差异。不同加热温度下,pH值和NaCl浓度对凝胶硬度、弹性、内聚性、胶粘性和咀嚼性影响的总体趋势一致且两者存在明显的交互作用。pH值较低时,随着NaCl浓度的增加,凝胶的硬度、弹性、内聚性、胶粘性和咀嚼性均增大;pH值较高时,NaCl浓度对凝胶硬度、弹性和胶粘性影响较小,内聚性随着NaCl浓度增加而降低。同时,随着加热温度的升高,凝胶的硬度和胶粘性增大,内聚性和咀嚼性减小,而凝胶弹性变化较小。     

Combined Effect of pH and Sodium Chloride on the Heat-induced Aggregation of Whole Egg Proteins

Heat-induced aggregation of whole egg proteins through various treatment combinations ranging from 70–85°C, pH 2.0–9.0, and NaCl concentrations of 0–3%, was investigated using multiple regression analysis and vertical flat-sheet polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The importance of single variable was in the order of temperature, pH and NaCl concentration, and the combined variable of pH and NaCl had a highly significant (p<0.001) effect on soluble protein content. From the fractional and step-wise aggregation appearances of whole egg proteins in the electrophoretic patterns, the heat stability of main proteins was considered to increase as pH (pH>5) and NaCl concentration increased.     

Heat-induced Gelation of Minced Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri:) Effect of pH, Sodium Chloride and Setting

The structure formation of minced rainbow trout was monitored during heating from 30°C to 85°C by a dynamic rheological method. The maxima of storage modulus (G') were found at 37°C and in the range of 45°C to 60°C. The largest differences in rigidity resulted from seasonal variations. Firmest protein matrix was obtained by using well-fed fish as raw material, by setting the gels at 35°C and using a pH value around 6.1. Sodium chloride in the range 1–2% had little effect on the final rigidity of the minced rainbow trout gels.     

Low Temperature Growth of Type E Clostridium botulinum Spores. 1. Effects of Sodium Chloride, Sodium Nitrite and pH

SUMMARY— The effects of pH and the addition of sodium chloride (NaCl) or sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) to trypticase-peptone-glucose (TPGI and trypticase-peptone-sucrose-yeast extract (TPSY) media upon spore outgrowth were investigated using seven Type E Clostridium botulinum strains. An inoculum of 1.0 × 10⁵ spores/ml was used and the pH was adjusted with hydrochloric acid to cover the range of 5.2 to 6.6. To define salt tolerance, NaCl was added to the media at intervals of 0.5% in the range of 2.0 to 5.0% and at 0.1% intervals in the 4.5 to 5.0% range. The effect of NaNO₂ was investigated with the addition of 100 and 200 ppm NaNO₂ to the media. Samples were incubated at 30, 15.6, 10, 7.2, 5.0 and 3.4°C. Outgrowth of all strains tested was inhibited at pH 5.2 at 15.6°C. Inhibition occurred at higher pH at lower temperatures. None of the strains showed outgrowth with 4.87% NaCl in the media at any of the incubation temperatures used. Addition of 100 and 200 ppm NaNO₂ to the media inhibited the outgrowth of the Minneapolis, 517, 26080 and A6247 strains but not the Kalamazoo and Seattle Forks strains.     

Mastitis: effect of pH, temperature, and emollients on disinfecting action of N,N-dimethyldodecanamine

Growth inhibition of bacteria over time by N,N-dimethyldodecanamine, a tertiary alkyl amine, was studied to evaluate disinfecting action with changes in pH and temperature and with addition of emollients. Because alkyl amines have limited solubility in aqueous solutions, the effect of pH on solubility of the tertiary amine was determined. Non-growing cultures of Streptococcus agalactiae or Escherichia coli were added to sterile buffer or buffer containing the amine, and at specific intervals aliquots were removed, neutralized in a lecithin/Tween 80 quencher, and then plated to determine the number of surviving bacteria per plate. Survival curves were used to determine the effect of changing environmental conditions on antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity was greater at pH 7 than at pH 8 and was least at pH 6. Increases in temperature from 20 to 40 degrees C caused a corresponding increase in antimicrobial activity. Addition of up to 10% glycerin or propylene glycol caused no significant decrease in antimicrobial activity of the tertiary amine.     

Synergistic effects of weak-acid preservatives and pH on the growth of Zygosaccharomyces bailii

In completely randomised factorial experiments, individual and synergistic effects of pH, benzoic acid and sorbic acid on the growth rate of the yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii were determined, and expressed in polynomial equations. Synergism between benzoic and sorbic acid was pH dependent. A distinct effect of the anionic form of benzoic acid on doubling time was demonstrated by experiments in which concentrations of benzoic acid and benzoate were varied. The resultant polynomial equation showed that both species act synergistically.     

Modelling the effect of temperature, carbon dioxide, water activity and pH on growth and histamine formation by Morganella psychrotolerans

A mathematical model was developed to predict growth and histamine formation by Morganella psychrotolerans depending on temperature (0-20 degrees C), atmosphere (0-100% CO2), NaCl (0.0-6.0%) and pH (5.4-6.5). Data from experiments with both sterile tuna meat and Luria Bertani broth was used to develop the mathematical growth and histamine formation model. The expanded Logistic model with a growth dampening parameter (m) of 0.7 was used as primary growth model. A primary model for histamine formation during storage was obtained by combining the expanded Logistic growth model with a yield factor (YHis/CFU). 120 maximum specific growth rate (micromax)-values were generated for M. psychrotolerans and used to model the combined effect of the studied environmental parameters. A simple cardinal parameter type secondary model was used to model the effect of the four parameters on micro(max). The maximum population density (log Nmax) was correlated with log (YHis/CFU) and a simple constrained polynomial (quadratic) secondary model was developed for the effect of the environmental conditions on these model parameters. The developed model describes the effect of initial cell concentrations, storage conditions and product characteristics on histamine formation. This is a significant progress compared to previously available models for the effect of storage temperature only.     

Synergistic effect of carbon dioxide atmospheres and high hydrostatic pressure to reduce spoilage bacteria on poultry sausages

Synergistic effect of combining high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and CO₂ atmospheres has been studied against Leuconostoc carnosum, Brochothrix thermosphacta, Salmonella enteritidis, Campylobacter jejuni and Listeria innocua separately inoculated in poultry sausages. The microbial counts of the HHP treated samples (350 MPa 10 min at room temperature) and CO₂ atmosphere packaged were compared with non pressure treated and air packaged ones, analyzed at 20 h and 7 days after the treatment. The results showed a synergistic effect of the combination of these two preserving technologies against all the microorganisms studied, except in S. enteritidis which showed a greater resistance under CO₂ atmospheres, and C. jejuni, that is especially sensitive at high pressures. It seems that cell damage produced by high pressure facilitates the penetration of carbon dioxide into the microorganisms' cells, affecting their metabolism and consequently their growth. Using CO₂ atmospheres in combination with HHP treatments, pressure could be lowered without compromising the reduction of microbial counts.     

Detection of Kluyveromyces marxianus and other spoilage yeasts in yoghurt using a PCR-culture technique

A combined PCR-culture technique was developed for the detection of viable yeasts in yoghurt samples. Yoghurt samples were inoculated with either viable or heat-inactivated Kluyveromyces marxianus cells, and analyzed before and after incubation for 24 h at 25 degrees C under agitation. DNA was extracted from the samples and amplified using yeast-specific primers targeted at the gene coding for the 18S rRNA. A 251-bp fragment was amplified by the Polymerase Chain Reaction from the yoghurt samples containing initial yeasts counts of 10 cfu g(-1) or higher, whereas no PCR product was generated from control uninoculated yoghurt samples. Comparison of PCR results obtained before and after the incubation step was used to assess yeast viability. Viability was also confirmed by plating on Sabouraud-Dextrose-Chloramphenicol Agar. Moreover, comparison of the results obtained using PCR-culture and plate count methods for the analysis of commercial yoghurt samples, demonstrated that the PCR-culture technique developed in this work can be very useful for the rapid detection of viable spoilage yeasts in dairy industries.