EFFECT OF RAPID COOLING OF SHELL EGGS ON MICROCRACK DEVELOPMENT, PENETRATION OF SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS, AND EGGSHELL STRENGTH

Eggs were subjected to cryogenic cooling treatments using liquid CO₂ or liquid N_2. In order to minimize the thermal stress in eggshells due to rapid cooling, a two-stage air-cooling method was also evaluated in this study. Eggs were cooled from an initial temperature of 25C to approximately 7C. It was found that cooling produced microcracks on eggshells. However, rapid cooling did not increase the penetration of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (Salmonella enteritidis) into egg contents. When egg contents alone were sampled for Salmonella enteritidis, extending the immersion time from 24 to 48 h significantly (P < 0.01) increased the penetration of Salmonella enteritidis from 5.0 to 25.0%. When egg contents together with eggshells were sampled, Salmonella enteritidis was detected in 100% of the egg samples at the above two time intervals. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the eggshell strength between control (no cooling) and cooling treatments, indicating that cooling did not weaken eggshell strength.     

Effect of various refrigeration temperatures on quality of shell eggs

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of low storage temperatures on shell egg quality. RESULTS: Approximately 2100 shell eggs were collected and stored at ? 1.1, 0.6, 2.2, 3.9, 5.6 and 7.2 °C for up to 4 weeks. Eighteen eggs at each storage temperature were evaluated after 0, 2, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of storage. Haugh units (HU), yolk index (YI), albumen pH (pHA), yolk pH (pHY) and angel food cake density (CD) were measured. Shell egg quality tended to be preserved better at below 2.2 °C, as high HU and YI values relative to eggs stored at 7.2 °C were determined on day 28. However, storage at ? 1.1 °C tended to cause the opposite effect, especially highly declined HU values over time. Significantly different HU values of shell eggs were measured after 14 days of storage, with eggs stored at 0.6 and 2.2 °C having the highest HU values, 80.42 and 77.97 respectively. CONCLUSION: A lower temperature limit for shell egg storage could be established between 0.6 and 2.2 °C, as both temperatures showed the highest HU values, 77.88 and 77.60 respectively, after 28 days of storage. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Growth of Salmonella enteritidis in artificially contaminated eggs: the effects of inoculum size and suspending media.

Growth profiles of two isolates of Salmonella enteritidis phage type (PT) 4 inoculated into either the albumen of whole shell eggs or into separated albumen were found to be markedly affected by the size of the inoculum and the composition of the medium used to suspend the cells prior to inoculation. Using our model with an inoculum of two cells, multiplication of the Salmonella was not seen in 93% of eggs held at 20 degrees C for 8 days. In approximately 7% of eggs, however, growth occurred during the 8 days of storage. If the inoculum equaled or exceeded 25 cells per egg when eggs were subsequently stored at 20 degrees C, or 250 cells per egg when eggs were stored at 30 degrees C, high levels of growth of Salmonella in the egg occurred significantly more frequently than when the inoculum was two cells. High levels of growth were also seen more frequently if the inoculum was suspended in buffered peptone water or maximal recovery diluent rather than in phosphate buffered saline. Growth of Salmonella in separated albumen occurred very infrequently (1.1% of samples) at low inoculum levels and did not become significant until the inoculum was 250 cells or greater. Growth in the albumen was unaffected by the composition of the suspending medium. Provided that the inoculum was approximately 2 cells per egg and the bacteria were suspended in PBS, observed growth profiles of S. enteritidis inoculated into the albumen of whole eggs resembled those in naturally contaminated eggs.     

Eggshell factors influencing eggshell penetration and whole egg contamination by different bacteria, including Salmonella enteritidis

Trans-shell infection routes and whole egg contamination of 7 selected bacterial strains; Staphylococcus warneri, Acinetobacter baumannii, Alcaligenes sp., Serratia marcescens, Carnobacterium sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Salmonella enteritidis, recovered from egg contents, were studied. The first objective was to correlate bacterial eggshell penetration with various eggshell characteristics and bacterial strains. An agar approach was used to assess the eggshell penetration. The second objective was to assess the contamination of whole eggs with the bacterial strains; whole intact eggs were used in this case. The intact shells of agar-filled and whole eggs were inoculated with 10(3) -10(4) cfu of the selected strains. During 3 weeks storage at 20 degrees C and 60% relative humidity, the bacterial eggshell penetration was regularly monitored. The whole egg contamination was only analyzed after 3 weeks. The eggshell characteristics such as area eggshell, shell thickness and number of pores did not influence the bacterial eggshell penetration. For each individual bacterial strain the mean cuticle deposition was lower for penetrated compared to non-penetrated eggshells. For the individual strain Carnobacterium sp. and for the global results of all strains this difference was statistical significantly. The whole egg contamination was not influenced by neither the area of the eggshell nor the porosity of the eggshell. The results of the agar approach indicate that the Gram-negative, motile and non-clustering bacteria penetrated the eggshell most frequently; Pseudomonas sp. (60%) and Alcaligenes sp. (58%) were primary invaders followed by S. enteritidis (43%). All selected strains were able to penetrate; penetration was observed most frequently after ca. 4-5 days. Particularly S. enteritidis was a primary invader of whole eggs: the membranes and/or the content of 32% of the whole eggs was contaminated. The remaining bacterial eggshell contamination with the selected strain was determined after 3 weeks storage. Penetrated eggshells and contaminated whole eggs showed a significantly higher bacterial contamination on the eggshell compared to non-penetrated eggshells and non-contaminated whole eggs respectively (global results of all strains). The influence of hen age on bacterial eggshell penetration and egg content contamination was not significant. While the agar approach is suitable to study the influence of the eggshell characteristics on the bacterial eggshell penetration, the intact egg approach gives an estimation of the penetration of the shell followed by the probability of survival and migration in whole eggs.     

Efficacy of disinfection of shell eggs externally contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis. Implications for egg testing.

Experimental contamination of the surface of shell eggs by dipping in a culture of Salmonella enteritidis resulted in the presence of Salmonella enteritidis in/on the shells as well as shell membranes but not in the egg content. Disinfection with Lugol's solution, chlorhexidine, ethanol, quarternary ammonium solutions or flaming after dipping in ethanol failed to achieve complete decontamination of the shell and membranes with resulting false positives when eggs were broken for culturing of the content. Dipping eggs for three seconds in boiling water resulted in complete destruction of Salmonella enteritidis in shells and membranes but sometimes caused the eggs to crack. A method of aseptically opening eggs without risk of contaminating the content from the shell or membrane was developed. Salmonella enteritidis deposited in/on the shell and membranes did not multiply during storage of the eggs at 20 degrees C for four weeks, the counts seemed to decrease. No Salmonella enteritidis was detected in the contents of any contaminated eggs.     

Laying season and egg shell cracks on the growth of Salmonella enteritidis in the egg albumen during storage

We studied the effects of laying seasons and egg shell cracks on the ability of egg albumen to support the growth of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in eggs. Hens eggs used were those laid in February, June, and October in a farm in Japan and stored at 10, 20, and 30 degrees C, and at 30 degrees C after storage at 10 degrees C, immediately after receipt or after cracking the shell. At several-day intervals during storage, the egg contents were poured into a dish, SE was inoculated into albumen, and then the growth of SE during 3 days incubation at 18 degrees C was measured. The results demonstrated that storage temperature and laying season affected the growth of SE in the egg albumen. The proportion of eggs upon which albumen allowed the growth of SE was higher in the eggs stored at 30 degrees C than those stored at 10 degrees C. The growth of SE in eggs was lowest in the following order of laying: February, October, and June. SE grew preferably in albumen of cracked eggs than intact eggs.     

A Quantitative Process Model for Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs

A stochastic model estimating growth of Salmonella Enteritidis during egg collection, processing, storage, and transportation is described. The model contains equations for internal egg temperature, yolk membrane integrity, and exponential growth rate of S. Enteritidis. Monte Carlo simulations determined that no growth was likely to occur during the average 4.5 d of the egg's progression from lay through transportation. However, various time‐temperature combinations affected the subsequent abuse an egg can withstand before S. Enteritidis growth begins. Scenarios demonstrated the relative importance of ambient air temperature and indicated the greatest safety improvements in this phase for shell eggs would result from preventing unrefrigerated storage or hastening cooling immediately after lay.     

Changes in Heat-Induced Rheological Properties During Cold Storage of Egg Albumen

Two groups of eggs were stored at 15°C for 0, 5 and 10 days. One group was stored, with the shell removed, in sterile Whirl-Pak bags. A second group was stored as intact whole eggs. Viscosity index, apparent elasticity, and initial penetration force were determined for heat-induced (80°C, 80 min) gels of the thick, thin and mixed albumens from each group. The rheological parameters increased with storage time, with the greater increase exhibited by the gels of the albumens that were stored as shell eggs. Solution pH was a major factor controlling these rheological properties of heated egg albumen.     

Effect of refrigeration on in vitro penetration of Salmonella enteritidis through the egg yolk membrane

Internally contaminated eggs have been implicated as leading sources of transmission of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) to humans. Although SE is not often deposited inside the nutrient-rich yolks of naturally contaminated eggs, penetration through the vitelline membrane to reach the yolk contents could result in rapid bacterial multiplication. In previous studies, such penetration has been observed occasionally at warm temperatures during experiments with in vitro egg contamination models. The present study was conducted to determine whether refrigeration affects the frequency of in vitro SE penetration of the egg yolk membrane. After inoculation of small numbers of SE onto the outside of the vitelline membranes of intact yolks, immediate refrigeration of contaminated samples prevented the penetration of SE into the egg yolk contents during 24 h of storage. However, SE penetrated inside the yolk contents in 4% of contaminated egg samples refrigerated after 2 h of storage at 30 degrees C, 15% of samples refrigerated after 6 h of storage at 30 degrees C, and 40% of samples stored at 30 degrees C for 24 h (48 samples per treatment group). These results highlight the value of prompt refrigeration for restricting the opportunities for SE to multiply to high numbers inside the yolks of contaminated eggs.     

Variations in external and internal microbial populations in shell eggs during extended storage

The current project was conducted to determine the microbial quality of commercially processed shell eggs during extended storage. Unwashed eggs were collected at the accumulator before entering the processing line. Washed eggs were retrieved after placement in flats. All eggs were stored on pulp flats at 4 degrees C for 10 weeks. Twelve eggs from each treatment were rinsed on the day of collection and during each week of storage. After rinsing, eggs were sanitized in ethanol, and contents were aseptically collected. Total aerobes, yeasts and molds, Enterobacteriaceae, and pseudomonads were enumerated from shell rinses and pooled egg contents. During storage, no differences were found between unwashed and washed eggs for Enterobacteriaceae and pseudomonads in either shell rinses or contents. No differences were found between treatments for population levels of total aerobes or yeasts and molds in the egg contents throughout the storage period. Significant differences between treatments were found at each week of storage for external shell contamination by total aerobes. The highest unwashed egg contamination occurred at week 8 of storage and the lowest was at weeks 0 and 1 of storage. The highest shell contamination with aerobic bacteria on the washed eggs was found at week 0 of storage and the lowest was at week 7. Yeast and mold contamination determined by shell rinses was also significantly different between treatments at each week of storage. Commercially washed eggs were significantly less contaminated than were unwashed eggs for the populations monitored.     

The vitelline membrane: Dynamics of cholesterol metabolism in hens' eggs

Changes in cholesterol levels in egg contents were studied to indicate trends and dynamics of processes of penetration through the vitelline membrane from yolk to egg white. Investigations were carried out on eggs stored for a period of 35 days at room temperature (22°C). Levels of free and esterified cholesterol were determined by the spectrophotometric method at 7-day intervals. The selective character of the vitelline membrane depends on conditions and period of storage. The study demonstrated that the vitelline membrane loses its selective nature between the twentieth and thirtieth days under particular conditions of storage. Following this period, a spontaneous penetration of cholesterol into the egg white is observed—i.e. the barrier equilibrium of the membrane becomes unstable. The presence of free cholesterol in egg white may be indicative of loss of egg freshness.     

Outgrowth of Salmonellae and the physical property of albumen and vitelline membrane as influenced by egg storage conditions

This study was undertaken to determine the influence of storage time and temperature on the volume, weight, and pH of egg albumen, the physical strength of vitelline membrane, and the fate of Salmonella Enteritidis artificially inoculated into egg albumen. A fiber-optic probe was used for inoculation with Salmonella Enteritidis at 10(2), 10(4), or 10(6) cells per egg. Both fresh and inoculated eggs were stored at 4, 10, and 22 degrees C for 6 weeks. Five fresh uninoculated eggs from each storage group were collected each week, and the weight, volume, and pH of the egg albumen were measured. The forces, energies, and degrees of membrane deformation required to rupture the vitelline membranes also were determined from either albumen-free yolks or yolks surrounded by albumen. In separate experiments, five inoculated eggs were evaluated each week for populations of Salmonella Enteritidis. When the eggs were stored at 4 degrees C, the albumen retained significantly more volume and weight and had a relatively lower pH. The vitelline membranes from eggs stored at 4 and 10 degrees C required more force and energy for rupture. Salmonellae flourished at 22 degrees C, even in the albumen with the lowest initial population, 10(2) cells per egg. Storage at 4 and 10 degrees C inhibited the growth of salmonellae in the albumen of eggs with initial populations of 10(2), 10(4), or 10(6) cells per egg. In eggs with initial Salmonella populations of 10(6) cells per egg that were stored at 22 degrees C, the populations of reached as high as 10(10) cells per egg after 4 weeks of storage. Storage at 4 and perhaps 10 degrees C postponed the aging process of chicken eggs, preserved the antimicrobial agents of the albumen, and maintained the integrity of vitelline membrane. Low-temperature storage therefore had a significant impact on the safety and overall quality of the eggs.     

贮藏温度变化对壳蛋新鲜度的影响

该文以新鲜罗曼粉壳蛋为研究对象,研究4个贮藏温度变化处理组壳蛋新鲜度指标的变化,分别于0、10、20、30 d检测所有实验组壳蛋失重率、气室高度、哈夫单位、蛋黄指数、浓稀蛋白比和蛋清pH。结果表明,贮藏10～30 d,处理组2、处理组3、处理组4的失重率显著升高(P<0.05),而气室高度和浓稀蛋白比显著降低(P<0.05),除对照组外,所有处理组壳蛋pH呈现先升高后下降的趋势,处理组3和处理组4的蛋黄指数下降趋势更为明显。对照组和处理组1壳蛋的哈夫单位、蛋黄指数和浓稀蛋白比显著高于(P<0.05)处理组3和处理组4。在贮藏10～20 d时,处理组2的壳蛋pH显著高于(P<0.05)对照组和处理组1。因此,如果前10 d常温贮藏温度≥20℃时,引起壳蛋失重率的增加和哈夫单位的下降,与低温(4℃)贮藏相比,采用贮藏温度变化(常温-低温)贮藏壳蛋更容易引起壳蛋新鲜度指标的下降。     

Fate of unirradiated Salmonella in irradiated mechanically deboned chicken meat.

Mechanically deboned chicken meat was irradiated at 0, 1.25 and 2.50 kGy (Cesium 137) and inoculated with Salmonella dublin ATCC 15480, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 9186 or Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028. Samples were then stored at 5 degrees C and 10 degrees C and were subjected to microbiological analysis directly after irradiation and inoculation (time 0), and after 24, 72, 120, 168 and 216 h of storage. Samples stored at 20 degrees C were examined at time 0 and after 6, 12 and 24 h of storage. Irradiation at 1.25 and 2.50 kGy caused an average reduction in bacterial levels of 2.23 and 3.44 logs, respectively. S. dublin, S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium showed very small, insignificant changes in numbers, during storage of meat for 9 days at 5 degrees C. The final populations of S. dublin and S. typhimurium in samples irradiated before inoculation and stored at 10 degrees C or 20 degrees C were greater than the equivalent populations in samples which had not been irradiated before inoculation. Reduction of indigenous microflora in mechanically deboned chicken meat by irradiation may create better conditions for the growth of salmonellae and may thus increase the risk of salmonellosis when accidental contamination and temperature abuse occur after a radiation treatment. Therefore, irradiated mechanically deboned chicken meat should be properly refrigerated and protected against contamination.     

Heat transfer models for predicting Salmonella enteritidis in shell eggs through supply chain distribution

ABSTRACT:  Egg and egg preparations are important vehicles for Salmonella enteritidis infections. The influence of time–temperature becomes important when the presence of this organism is found in commercial shell eggs. A computer-aided mathematical model was validated to estimate surface and interior temperature of shell eggs under variable ambient and refrigerated storage temperature. A risk assessment of S. enteritidis based on the use of this model, coupled with S. enteritidis kinetics, has already been reported in a companion paper published earlier in JFS . The model considered the actual geometry and composition of shell eggs and was solved by numerical techniques (finite differences and finite elements). Parameters of interest such as local ( h ) and global ( U ) heat transfer coefficient, thermal conductivity, and apparent volumetric specific heat were estimated by an inverse procedure from experimental temperature measurement. In order to assess the error in predicting microbial population growth, theoretical and experimental temperatures were applied to a S. enteritidis growth model taken from the literature. Errors between values of microbial population growth calculated from model predicted compared with experimentally measured temperatures were satisfactorily low: 1.1% and 0.8% for the finite difference and finite element model, respectively.     

贮藏温度-时间变化对壳蛋新鲜度影响研究

该文以新鲜罗曼粉壳蛋为研究对象,研究5个贮藏温度-时间变化组壳蛋新鲜度指标变化,分别于0、10、20、30 d检测所有实验组壳蛋失重率、气室高度、哈夫单位、蛋黄指数、浓稀蛋白比、蛋清pH。结果表明,贮藏期间壳蛋失重率、气室高度和蛋清pH显著升高（P<0.05）,哈夫单位、蛋黄指数和浓稀蛋白比显著下降（P<0.05）。贮藏20 d时,处理组5壳蛋哈夫单位和蛋黄指数显著高于（P<0.05）对照组1、处理组1、处理组2和处理组3,而失重率、气室高度、蛋清pH较低（P<0.05）。贮藏30 d时,处理组5壳蛋失重率和气室高度显著低于对照组1、处理组1和处理组3（P<0.05）,蛋黄指数显著高于对照组1、处理组2、处理组3、处理组4（P<0.05）。除失重率、哈夫单位外,对照组2与处理组5壳蛋新鲜度指标整体差别不大。因此,除了壳蛋自身品质外,需要尽可能延长低温（4 ℃）贮藏时间,延缓壳蛋新鲜度指标劣变。     

Influence of eggshell condensation on eggshell penetration and whole egg contamination with Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis

Shells of agar-filled and whole eggs were inoculated with 10(3) to 10(4) CFU of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis per eggshell. The agar-filled eggs were used to study bacterial eggshell penetration, and the whole egg results were used to characterize contamination of the egg contents. In each group, half of the eggs were stored for 21 days at 20 degrees C and 60% relative humidity (RH), and the other half was stored for 24 h at 6 degrees C and then for 20 days at 20 degrees C. The latter conditions resulted in condensation on the eggshell for 30 min from the moment the eggs were placed in the 20 degrees C chamber. Taking into account the ages at which hens were studied (39, 53, and 67 weeks), an average of 62% of the eggshells with condensate were penetrated compared with 43% for the control group; this difference was significant (P < 0.01). No significant difference in whole egg contamination was found; 18% of the control eggs were contaminated compared with 22% of the condensate eggs. Whole egg contamination was significantly higher for eggs from the hens at an older age (67 weeks). This difference probably was not due to a higher penetration potential because differences were not observed for the corresponding agar-filled eggs. Condensation on the eggshell seemed to encourage bacterial penetration of the eggshell but had a smaller impact on whole egg contamination.     

Combination of Super Chilling and High Carbon Dioxide Concentration Techniques Most Effectively to Preserve Freshness of Shell Eggs during Long-Term Storage

ABSTRACT:  This study was made to examine the combined effects of stored temperature and carbon dioxide atmosphere on shell egg quality. The shell eggs were packed into polyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene (PET/PE) pouches and stored at 0 °C (super chilling), 10 °C, and 20 °C, respectively for 90 d. The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was controlled to obtain the 3 concentration levels of high (about 2.0%), medium (about 0.5%), and low (below 0.01%). Changes in Haugh unit (HU) values, weakening of vitelline membranes, and generation of volatiles were analyzed to evaluate the freshness of shell eggs. Results showed that, compared with the other combinations, the technique of super chilling and high carbon dioxide concentration enabled shell eggs to be most effectively stored for 90 d, based on estimations of the statistical significances of differences in HU values, and on maintaining the initial HU values during storage. In addition, the storage of shell eggs using this combination technique was found to significantly prevent the weakening of the vitelline membrane based on the estimations of numbers of eggs without vitelline membrane breakage when eggs broke, and significantly lowered the incidence of hexanal in the yolk from exposure to the gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses of volatiles. Thus, these results confirmed that the combination of super chilling and high carbon dioxide concentration was the most effective technique for preserving shell eggs during a long term of 90 d compared with other combination techniques.     

Detection of Salmonella enteritidis in shell and liquid eggs using enrichment and plating

Detection methods using various enrichment and plating media and immunoconcentration for Salmonella enteritidis in shell and liquid eggs were evaluated. For liquid egg samples naturally contaminated with S. enteritidis, pre-enrichment in 225 ml of buffered peptone water with cysteine followed by selective enrichment in 10 ml of tetrathionate broth was the superior, resulting in the detection of S. enteritidis in all samples on six of the seven types of selective agar substrate investigated. This enrichment procedure also enabled detection of S. enteritidis in most of artificially inoculated shell egg and pasteurized liquid egg samples.     

贮藏条件与禽蛋品质的相关性研究

为了比较不同贮藏条件对禽蛋品质的影响,将鸡蛋、鸭蛋和鹅蛋置于5、10、20、30℃贮藏30d,分析3种禽蛋品质变化与贮藏条件相关性规律。结果表明:贮藏温度对禽蛋品质的影响显著,高温贮藏加速禽蛋品质下降;禽蛋品质随贮藏时间延长而下降;除哈夫单位,3种禽蛋品质可以用相同品质指标来衡量。拟合方程的判定系数表明,贮藏过程中失重率和整蛋pH变化可以用零级反应动力学方程表征,哈夫单位和蛋黄指数变化规律可以用一级反应动力学方程表征。品质变化动力学级数与禽蛋品种无关,不同种类禽蛋在贮藏过程中品质变化规律基本相似。