Microbiological quality of mechanically recovered poultry meat treated with high hydrostatic pressure and nisin

The combined effect of high hydrostatic pressure processing, addition of nisin and acidification on aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacterial populations of mechanically recovered poultry meat (MRPM) kept under refrigeration (2°C) was evaluated 1, 15 and 30 days after pressurization. Nisin (0, 12.055, 100 and 200 ppm) and glucono-delta-lactone (GdL; 0 and 1%) were added to MRPM. Vacuum-packaged samples were treated at 350 or 450 MPa and 2°C for 15 min using both continuous pressurization and three-cycle oscillatory pressurization for 5 min per cycle. In some samples a reduction of mesophile counts between 3.0544 and 5.0538 log cfu g⁻¹was found. Psychrotrophes seemed to be more sensitive; in samples with 100 ppm of nisin and GdL treated at 450 MPa with cycles they were reduced to undetectable levels (a lethality of approximately 7.055 log units). Cycle pressurization showed slightly better results than continuous pressurization. The combination of 350 MPa, 100 ppm of nisin and 1% of GdL was enough to extend the shelf life of MRPM during the 30 day chilled storage.     

Listeria innocua and aerobic mesophiles during chill storage of inoculated mechanically recovered poultry meat treated with high hydrostatic pressure

Mechanically recovered poultry meat (MRPM) was inoculated with Listeria innocua 910 CECT at a level of approximately 10⁸ CFU g⁻¹. Vacuum-packaged samples were treated by combinations of pressure (350, 400, 450 and 500 MPa), time (5, 10, 15 and 30 min) and temperature (2, 10 and 20°C) and later stored at 2°C for 2 months. Counts of L. innocua and aerobic mesophilic bacteria were determined 1, 4, 7, 15, 30 and 60 days after pressurisation. For mesophiles, in most treatments, pressurization at 2°C gave the significantly best results. High pressure caused a marked bactericidal effect on L. innocua: reductions higher than 7.5 log units were achieved in several cases. Some cells were just sublethally injured by pressure. Samples treated at 500 MPa for 30 min at 2°C had counts of only 2.3 log units after 60 days of chill storage. Noninoculated pressurised MRPM did not show Listeria growth throughout storage. These results suggest that high pressure processing can enhance the microbiological quality of MRPM.     

Destruction of Salmonella enteritidis inoculated in liquid whole egg by high hydrostatic pressure: comparative study in selective and non-selective media

The destruction of Salmonella enteritidis inoculated in liquid whole egg at approximately 10⁷−10⁸cfu ml^−lwas studied under combinations of pressure (350 and 450 MPa), temperature (50, 20, 2 and −15°C) and time (5, 10, 15 min and cycles of 5+5 and 5+5+5 min). One non-selective medium (tryptone soy agar) and two selective media (brilliant green agar and salmonella-shigella) were used to evaluate viability of S. enteritidis after pressurization. The inactivation rate increased with pressure and exposure time, being minimal at 350 MPa and −15°C for 5 min (over 1 log₁₀of reduction) and reaching total inactivation (8 log₁₀of reduction) in several treatments at 50°C. Treatments in cycles showed greater effectiveness than continuous treatments of the same total time. The effect of pressure was enhanced by elevated temperatures. The higher counts were obtained in the non-selective medium, indicating the presence of injured cells after pressure treatment. D -values obtained for two temperatures (2 and 20°C) and different times (0–60 min) under controlled pressure (400 MPa) showed that microbial inactivation followed a first-order kinetics with a decimal reduction time evaluated in tryptone soy agar medium of 9·5 min at 2°C and 8·8 min at 20°C.     

Inactivation ofEscherichia coliinoculated in liquid whole egg by high hydrostatic pressure

The resistance ofEscherichia coliin liquid whole egg was studied at several pressures (300, 350, 400 and 450MPa), temperatures (50, 20, 2 and –15°C) and times (5, 5+5, 10, 5+5+5, 15min). The highest reduction was obtained at 50°C (about 7log₈units). At 20 and –15°CE. coliwas more resistant to pressure than at 50 and 2°C. The intermittent treatments were more effective than continuous treatments at lower pressures (350MPa). The destruction increases upon increasing the pressure and the time treatment. Survivor curves were studied at 400MPa for two temperatures (20 and 2°C) and different times (0–60min), obtaining a decimal reduction time of 14.1min at 20°C and 9.5min at 2°X.     

Effects of High Hydrostatic Pressure on the Physical,Microbial, and Chemical Attributes of Oysters (Crassostrea virginica)

The change in the quality attributes (physical, microbial, and chemical) of oysters (Crassostrea virginica) after high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment at 300 MPa at room temperature (RT, 25 °C) 300, 450, and 500 MPa at 0 °C for 2 min and control oysters without treatment were evaluated over 3 wk. The texture and tissue yield percentages of oysters HHP treated at 300 MPa, RT increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to control. Aerobic and psychrotrophic bacteria in control oysters reached the spoilage point of 7 log CFU/g after 15 d. Coliform counts (log MPN/g) were low during storage with total and fecal coliforms less than 3.5 and 1.0. High pressure treated oysters at 500 MPa at 0 °C were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than oysters HHP treated at 300 MPa at 0 °C in lipid oxidation values. The highest pressure (500 MPa) treatment in this study, significantly (P < 0.05) decreased unsaturated fatty acid percentage compared to control. The glycogen content of control oysters at 3 wk was significantly higher (P < 0.05) when compared to HHP treated oysters [300 MPa, (RT); 450 MPa (0 °C); and 500 MPa (0 °C)]. HHP treatments of oysters were not significantly different in pH, percent salt extractable protein (SEP), and total lipid values compared to control. Based on our results, HHP prolongs the physical, microbial, and chemical quality of oysters.     

Possible nutritional and health‐related value promotion in orange juice preserved by high‐pressure treatment

Effects of high‐pressure treatment on the orange juice carotenoids (β‐carotene, α‐carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein and β‐cryptoxanthin) associated with nutritional (vitamin A) and health‐related (radical‐scavenging capacity) values were investigated. Various high‐pressure treatments (50–350 MPa) combined with different temperatures (30 and 60 °C) and times (2.5, 5 and 15 min) of treatment were assayed. The carotenoid content of the orange juice was analysed by HPLC‐UV, the vitamin A value was determined as retinol equivalents (RE) and the free radical‐scavenging capacity was evaluated using the DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1,1‐picrylhydrazyl) radical model system. A storage study was carried out at refrigeration temperature (4 °C). High‐pressure treatments at 350 MPa produced significant increases of 20–43% in the carotenoid content of fresh orange juice (from 3.99 to 4.78–5.70 mg l^?1). A non‐uniform behaviour of high‐pressure treatments was detected. An increase in time (beyond 5 min) or temperature (above 30 °C) of treatment did not improve the amount of carotenoids extracted. Owing to better extraction of carotenoids, an increase in vitamin A value from 164 to 238 RE l^?1 (45%) was achieved with the 350 MPa/30 °C/5 min treatment. No correlation was found between the increase in carotenoid amount extracted and the free radical‐scavenging activity. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Inactivation of peroxidase and lipoxygenase in carrots, green beans, and green peas by combination of high hydrostatic pressure and mild heat treatment

The efficiency of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) with the combination of mild heat treatment on peroxidase (POD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) inactivation in carrots, green beans, and green peas was investigated. In the first part of the study, the samples were pressurized under 250–450 MPa at 20–50 °C for 15–60 min. In the second part, two steps treatments were performed as water blanching at 40–70 °C for 15 and 30 min after pressurization at 250 MPa and 20 °C for 15–60 min. Carrot POD was decreased to 16% residual activity within the first 30 min at a treatment condition of 350 MPa and 20 °C and then it decreased to 9% at 60 min. When the carrots were water blanched at 50 °C for 30 min after HHP treatment of 250 MPa at 20 °C for 15 min, 13% residual POD activity was obtained. For green beans, the most effective results were obtained by two steps treatment and approximately 25% residual POD activity was obtained by water blanching at 50 °C for 15 min after pressurization at 250 MPa and 20 °C for 60 min. An effective inactivation of POD in green peas was not obtained. For carrots, LOX activity could not be measured due to very low LOX activity or the presence of strong antioxidants such as carotenoids. After pressurization at 250 MPa and 20 °C for 15 or 30 min, water blanching at 60 °C for 30 min provided 2–3% residual LOX activity in green beans. The treatment of 250 MPa for 30 min and then water blanching at 50 °C for 30 min provided 70% LOX inactivation in green peas.     

Effects of ultra high hydrostatic pressure on Listeria monocytogenes and natural flora in broth, milk and fruit juices

Listeria monocytogenes was subjected to ultra high hydrostatic pressure (UHHP) treatments from 200 to 700 MPa at 25 °C in broth, raw milk, peach juice and orange juice. Survivor curves showed that cell death increased as pressure increased. After 10 min pressure treatment at 400 MPa reductions of about 2.09 and 2.76 log CFU mL^?1 in aerobic bacteria and L. monocytogenes, respectively, were produced in raw milk, this increased to 5.09 and 6.47 log CFU mL^?1, respectively, at 600 MPa. Death of bacteria at UHHP treatment was greater in orange juice than peach juice, and in peach juice than milk. Listeria monocytogenes was more sensitive to increased pressure than increased pressurization time. Injury of L. monocytogenes occurred from 0 to 100%. Factors effecting the rate of microbial inactivation are: pressure, age of cell, composition of medium, and pressurization time. UHHP inactivation can be used to extend shelf life and increase food quality during storage, and may also contribute to inactivation of L. monocytogenes.     

Inactivation of microorganisms naturally present in raw bovine milk by high‐pressure carbon dioxide

This study assessed the inactivation of microorganisms naturally present in raw bovine milk by high‐pressure carbon dioxide (HPCD) at 10–30 MPa and 20–50 °C for 20–70 min. The log reduction of microorganisms increased as raw bovine milk was exposed to higher pressures and temperatures and longer treatment times. The maximum reduction of aerobic bacteria (AB) was 4.96‐log at 25 MPa and 50 °C for 70 min. At lower temperatures and treatment times, a complete inactivation of yeasts and moulds (Y&M) and coliform bacteria (CB) was obtained at 25 MPa. Changes in microorganisms naturally present in raw bovine milk during storage were also assessed. There were 1.83‐log survival of AB, 0.65‐log survival of Y&M and a complete inactivation of CB in raw bovine milk when subjected to HPCD at 25 MPa and 40 °C for 50 min. Moreover, the AB, Y&M and the CB in raw bovine milk exhibited insignificant alterations during storage at 4 °C for 15 days, indicating a potential capability of HPCD to extend the shelf life of milk.     

Identification of equivalent processing conditions for pasteurization of strawberry juice by high pressure,ultrasound, and pulsed electric fields processing

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of high pressure processing (HPP), ultrasound (US) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) for the pasteurization of strawberry juice (SJ). Acid-adapted Escherichia coli was used to inoculate SJ prior to treatment with HPP, US, and PEF. HPP was applied at several pressures (200–400 MPa) up to 2 min while US (120 μm, 24 kHz) was conducted at 25, 40, and 55 °C up to 10 min in continuous pulsing mode. In order to avoid excessive use of SJ, PEF was performed using a model solution (MS) basically composed of citric acid (8 g/L), fructose (35 g/L), glucose (35 g/L), Na₂HPO₄ (0.2 M) and NaCl (5%) to simulate the SJ electrical conductivity, pH, and total soluble solid (TSS). A face-centered composite design was conducted for PEF processing at different electric field intensities (EFI) (25–35 kV/cm) and treatment times (5–27 μs). Processing conditions were selected that resulted in 5-log CFU/mL inactivation of E. coli. HPP at 300 MPa for 1 min, and US at 55 °C (thermosonication) for 3 min reduced E. coli in SJ by 5.75 ± 0.52 and 5.69 ± 0.61 log CFU/mL, respectively. PEF treatment at 35 kV/cm, 27 μs treatment time, 350 mL/min flow rate, and 2 μs pulse width in monopolar mode resulted in 5.53 ± 0.00 log reduction of E. coli in MS. Likewise, E. coli population in SJ was also reduced by 5.16 ± 0.15 log after applying the same PEF conditions to SJ. No E. coli was detected in SJ subjected to conventional thermal pasteurization at 72 °C for 15 s. All technologies reduced the natural microbiota below 2 log CFU/mL in terms of the total aerobic bacteria and yeast-mold counts. Thus, this study identified the equivalent conditions for the SJ pasteurization by three nonthermal processing technologies.Industrial relevanceConsumers have an increasing interest towards fresh-like food products with desirable nutritional and sensorial attributes. High pressure, ultrasound and pulsed electric field are three relevant novel nonthermal technologies as alternatives to conventional thermal treatments. This study identified the processing conditions of these three nonthermal technologies for the pasteurization of strawberry juice based on equivalent inactivation of acid-adapted E. coli. From an industrial point of view, the established processing conditions are useful references for the development of novel berry juices. In addition to microbiological safety, this study on equivalent processing allows direct efficacy and quality comparisons of a given juice pasteurized by the three nonthermal technologies under consideration.     

Reuterin and High Hydrostatic Pressure Treatments on the Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes and Effect on the Characteristics of Cold-Smoked Salmon

The effect of reuterin and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) processing at 450 MPa for 5 min on the inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes and the characteristics of cold-smoked salmon during 35 days at 4 and 10 °C were investigated. The growth rate of the pathogen was reduced by reuterin addition and a synergistic antimicrobial effect against L. monocytogenes was recorded when the biopreservative was applied in combination with HHP at 450 MPa for 5 min. This combined treatment prevented the pathogen recovery observed with individual treatments and delayed the spoilage of smoked salmon maintaining total viable counts under 3.5 log units during 35 days of storage at 4 °C. All treatments assayed induced changes in lightness (L*) and redness (a*), resulting in a brighter appearance of smoked salmon, whereas no modifications were recorded in shear strength values immediately after treatments. Moreover, reuterin and HHP treatments, individually or in combination, avoided the formation of biogenic amines during the 35 days of storage at 4 and 10 °C. The addition of reuterin in combination with HHP at 450 MPa for 5 min might be applied as a hurdle technology to improve the safety and extend the shelf life of lightly preserved seafood products, such as cold-smoked salmon.     

Thermal and High-Pressure Stability of Pectin-Converting Enzymes in Broccoli and Carrot Purée: Towards the Creation of Specific Endogenous Enzyme Populations Through Processing

The thermal and pressure stability of broccoli and carrot pectin-converting enzymes, in particular pectinmethylesterase (PME), β-galactosidase (β-Gal), and α-arabinofuranosidase (α-Af), were investigated in vegetable purée matrices. In situ enzyme inactivation by thermal and high-pressure processing (respectively 5 min at 25–80 °C at 0.1 MPa and 10 min at 0.1–800 MPa at 20 °C) was evaluated by measuring the residual enzyme activity in crude extracts of treated carrot, broccoli floret, and broccoli stem purée samples. PME was completely inactivated in all vegetable purée matrices after a 5-min treatment at 80 °C. After a treatment at 800 MPa (20 °C, 10 min) only 77–90 % of pressure stable PME was inactivated, depending on the matrix. β-Gal and α-Af enzymes were inactivated in the vegetable purée matrices by thermal treatments respectively at 67.5–72.5 and 80 °C. These enzymes showed some pressure resistance: treatments respectively at 600–700 and 600–750 MPa were necessary for one log-reduction of β-Gal and α-Af activity in the different purées at 20 °C. Under the assumption of a first-order inactivation model, inactivation rate constants and their temperature or pressure dependency were determined for the different enzymes. Based on differences in process stability of the enzymes in the individual purée matrices, the feasibility for the creation of specific endogenous enzyme populations by selective processing was evaluated.     

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on Listeria innocua 910 CECT inoculated into Ewe's milk.

Ewe's milk standardized to 6% fat was inoculated with Listeria innocua 910 CECT at a concentration of 10(7)CFU/ml and treated by high hydrostatic pressure. Treatments consisted of combinations of pressure (200, 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500 MPa), temperature (2, 10, 25, and 50 degrees C), and time (5, 10, and 15 min). To determine numbers of L. innocua, listeria selective agar base with listeria selective supplement and plate count agar was used. Low-temperature (2 degrees C) pressurizations produced higher L. innocua inactivation than treatments at room temperatures (25 degrees C). Pressures between 450 and 500 MPa for 10 to 15 min were needed to achieve reductions of 7 to 8 log units. The kinetics of destruction of L. innocua were first order with D-values of 3.12 min at 2 degrees C and 400 MPa and 4 min at 25 degrees C and 400 MPa. A baroprotective effect of ewe's milk (6% fat) on L. innocua was observed in comparison with other studies using different media and similar pressurization conditions.     

Sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus and Lactobacillus helveticus in ovine milk subjected to high hydrostatic pressure.

Ovine milk, standardized to 6% fat, was inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus CECT 534 and Lactobacillus helveticus CECT 414 at a concentration of 10(7) cfu/ml and treated by high hydrostatic pressure. Treatments consisted of combinations of pressure (200, 300, 400, 450, and 500 MPa), temperature (2, 10, 25, and 50 degrees C), and time (5, 10, and 15 min). Staphylococcus aureus was highly resistant to pressure; only pressurizations at 50 degrees C of 500 MPa for 15 min achieved reductions of > or = 7.3 log units. For L. helveticus, the number of surviving cells was reduced considerably at pressures of 400 MPa or more (up to 4.5 log units at 50 degrees C for 15 min), and pressure was more effective at low (2 and 10 degrees C) and moderately high (50 degrees C) temperatures than at room temperature (25 degrees C). Both species showed first-order kinetics of destruction in the range 0 to 60 min. The D values for S. aureus were 20 min (2 degrees C at 450 MPa) and 16.7 min (25 degrees C at 450 MPa), and D values for L. helveticus were 7.1 min (2 degrees C at 450 MPa) and 9.1 min (25 degrees C at 450 MPa). Lactobacillus helveticus showed higher rates of survival of pressure than those reported in previous studies for other Lactobacillus spp.     

Comparison of static and step-pulsed ultra-high pressure on the microbial stability of fresh cut pineapple

Fresh cut pineapple cubes inoculated with 10^4–5 CFU g⁻¹ Saccharomyces cerevisiae were packed in heat-sealed polyethylene pouches and subjected at ambient temperature to static and step-pulsed ultra-high pressure (UHP) treatments. Static treatments included 100 and 9000 s at 270 MPa and 9000 s at 340 MPa. Step-pulsed pressure treatments included 100, 300 and 600 s at 0–270 MPa using 0·5-s and 10-s pulses. Inoculated treated and untreated samples were held at 4°C for 60 days. Bacteria and yeast counts were determined using plate count agar and yeast extract peptone dextrose agar, respectively. Static treatment at 270 and 340 MPa for 9000 s resulted in <240 CFU g⁻¹ yeast and bacteria counts for up to 60 days. Step-pulsed pressure treatments for 100 s at 0–270 MPa using 0·5-s (200 pulses) and 10-s pulses (10 pulses) were more effective than a 100-s static 270-MPa treatment. Step-pulsed pressure treatments (300 and 600 s) using 0·5-s pulses (600 and 1200 pulses) and 10-s pulses (30 and 60 pulses) were as effective as 9000-s static pressure treatments at 270 and 340 MPa. This storage study confirmed the superiority of step-pulsed over static pressure treatments. © 1998 SCI.     

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure and high-pressure homogenisation on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus plantarum</Emphasis> inactivation kinetics and quality parameters of mandarin juice

The inactivation kinetics of Lactobacillus plantarum in a mandarin juice treated by thermal treatment (45–90 °C), high-pressure homogenisation (HPH) (30–120 MPa at 15 and 30 °C) and high-pressure processing (HPP) (150–450 MPa at 15, 30 and 45 °C) were fitted to different Weibullian equations. A synergic effect between pressure and temperature was observed in HPH and HPP treatments achieving 2.38 log cycles after 120 MPa at 30 °C for 10 s (final T of 45 °C) and 6.12 log cycles after 400 MPa at 45 °C for 1 min (final T of 60 °C), respectively. A combined treatment of 100 MPa at 15 °C for 10 s and 300 MPa at 15–30 °C for 1 min in HPH and HPP, respectively, was needed to the first logarithm microbial population decline. Weibull model accurately predicted microorganism inactivation kinetics after HPH and HPP processing when displaying single shoulder or tail in the survivor curves, whereas when a more complex trend was observed after thermal treatment, the double-Weibull equation was found more appropriate to explain such behaviour. Equivalent treatments that achieved the same degree of microbial inactivation (77 °C–10 s in thermal processing, 120 MPa–10 s at 30 °C in HPH processing and 375 MPa–1 min at 30 °C in HPP) were selected to study the effects on quality parameters. The application of dynamic pressure led to a decrease in sedimentable pulp, transmittance and juice redness, thus stabilising the opaqueness and cloudiness of mandarin juice. Pectin methyl esterase (PME) was found to be highly baroresistant to static and dynamic pressure. Carotenoid content remained unaffected by any treatment. This study shows the potential of high-pressure homogenisation as an alternative for fruit-juice pasteurisation.     

Effect of pH on Enzyme Inactivation Kinetics in High-Pressure Processed Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) Puree Using Response Surface Methodology

Effect of pH and high-pressure process treatments viz. pressure, temperature, and dwell time on inactivation of polyphenoloxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), bromelain (BRM), and pectinmethylesterase (PME) in pineapple puree was studied. Experiments were conducted according to rotatable central composite design (RCCD) within the range (?α to?+?α) of 100–600 MPa, 20–70 °C, and 0–30 min at three different pH levels (3.0, 3.5, and 4.0) followed by analysis through response surface methodology (RSM). Enzyme inactivation was significantly (p?k in min^?1) revealed that PPO was the most resistive (k ranged between 0.0020 and 0.0379 min^?1) when compared with other three enzymes within the experimental domain. Increased k at lower pH with constant pressure and temperature depicted that pH had negative effect on the inactivation process. The optimized conditions targeting maximum inactivation of PPO, POD and PME with simultaneous retention of BRM in pineapple puree, were 600 MPa/60 °C/9 min, 600 MPa/60 °C/10 min and 600 MPa/60 °C/10 min for the samples of pH 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0, respectively.     

Thermal and High-Pressure Stability of Pectinmethylesterase, Polygalacturonase, β-Galactosidase and α-Arabinofuranosidase in a Tomato Matrix: Towards the Creation of Specific Endogenous Enzyme Populations Through Processing

The thermal and pressure stability of tomato pectinmethylesterase (PME), polygalacturonase (PG), β-galactosidase (β-Gal), and α-arabinofuranosidase (α-Af) were investigated in situ. Enzyme inactivation by thermal and high-pressure processing (respectively 5 min at 25–95 °C at 0.1 MPa and 10 min at 0.1–800 MPa at 20 °C) was monitored by measuring the residual activity in crude enzyme extracts of treated tomato purée samples. PME was completely inactivated after a 5-min treatment at 75 °C. Only 30 % of the pressure stable PME was inactivated after a treatment at 800 MPa (20 °C, 10 min). A 5-min treatment at 95 °C and a treatment at 550 MPa (20 °C, 10 min) caused complete PG inactivation. β-Gal and α-Af activities were already reduced significantly by thermal treatments at 42.5–52.5 °C and 45–60 °C, respectively. These enzymes were, however, rather pressure resistant: treatments at respectively 700 and 600 MPa were necessary to reduce the activity below 10 % of the initial value. Assuming that first-order, fractional conversion or biphasic inactivation models could be applied to the respective enzyme inactivation data, inactivation rate constants and their temperature or pressure dependence for the different enzymes were determined. Based on differences in process stability of the enzymes, possibilities for the creation of specific “enzyme populations” in tomato purée by selective enzyme inactivation were identified. For industrially relevant process conditions, the enzyme inactivation data obtained for tomato purée were shown to be transferable to intact tomato tissue.     

Inactivation Kinetics of the Most Baro-Resistant Enzyme in High Pressure Processed Litchi-Based Mixed Fruit Beverage

This work focused on a litchi-based mixed fruit beverage, comprising of coconut water and lemon juice, mixed in an optimized proportion. Based on preliminary studies, three resistant spoilage enzymes were identified in the beverage, viz. polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and pectin methyl esterase (PME). The response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite face-centered design (FCCD) screened out PPO as the most resistant enzyme within the high pressure processing (HPP) domain of 200–600 MPa/30–70 °C/0–20 min. A detailed kinetic study was conducted on PPO inactivation within the same HPP domain along with a set of thermal treatments (0.1 MPa/30–70 °C). A synergistic effect of pressure and temperature on PPO inactivation was observed, throughout the HPP domain. However, PPO was almost completely inactivated at 500 MPa/70 °C/20 min. The inactivation order (n) values for PPO were 1.10 and 1.25 for thermal and HPP treatments, respectively. For every 10 °C rise in temperature, the inactivation rate constant (k, U^n-1 min^?1) increased approximately by 1.5 times, within 50–70 °C (at 0.1 MPa), while a 10-fold increase was obtained in the case of HPP treatments. The activation energy (E _a ) and the activation volume (V _a), depicting the temperature and pressure dependence of k, was found to decrease slightly, with an increase in pressure and temperature, respectively. The PPO inactivation rate constant was modeled as a function of both temperature and pressure conditions by combining both Arrhenius and Eyring equations.     

Survival and growth of Yersinia enterocolitica strains inoculated in skimmed milk treated with high hydrostatic pressure

Four human pathogenic strains of Yersinia enterocolitica (serotypes O:1, O:3, O:8, and O:9) were inoculated (7-8 log CFU/ml) in UHT skimmed milk and treated at 300, 400, and 500 MPa for 10 min at 20 degrees C, and then kept at 8 degrees C to assess their evolution for 15 days. Treatments at 400 and 500 MPa caused the highest lethality, generally reaching counts below detection level (1 CFU/ml) in the culture media. At 300 MPa, the most baroresistant serotypes were O:3 and O:8. After 15 days of storage at 8 degrees C, Y. enterocolitica showed growth over 8 log (CFU/ml) in all treatments. Kinetic study of microbial inactivation in skimmed milk was performed with serotype O:8 at 300 MPa, showing a tailing after 35 min of pressure treatment.