Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes in cold-smoked salmon by Carnobacterium piscicola CS526 isolated from frozen surimi

Strain CS526 was isolated from frozen surimi and identified as a bacteriocin producer that had strong inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes. Strain CS526 was identified as Carnobacterium piscicola by partial 16S rDNA sequence similarity. The ability of this bacteriocinogenic strain and nonbacteriocinogenic C. piscicola JCM5348 to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes was examined in culture broth incubated at 12 degrees C and cold-smoked salmon stored at 4, 12, and 20 degrees C. L. monocytogenes viable counts in the culture broth rapidly declined from 10(6) colony-forming units per ml to less than 10 colony-forming units per ml within 1 day at 12 degrees C in the presence of C. piscicola CS526. At 4 and 12 degrees C, inhibition of L. monocytogenes on salmon depended on the initial inoculum level of C. piscicola CS526. However, C. piscicola CS526 was bactericidal to L. monocytogenes within 21 and 12 days at 4 and 12 degrees C in cold-smoked salmon, respectively, even when the initial inoculum levels were low. C. piscicola CS526 suppressed the maximum cell number of L. monocytogenes by two and three log cycles, even at 20 degrees C. However, C. piscicola JCM5348 did not prevent the growth of the pathogen, except at 4 degrees C. Bacteriocin was detected in the samples coinoculated with C. piscicola CS526. The study shows that C. piscicola CS526 might have potential for biopreservation of refrigerated foods against L. monocytogenes.     

Inhibition of Listeria innocua growth by antimicrobial-producing lactic acid cultures in vacuum-packed cold-smoked salmon

The biopreservative potential of three antimicrobial-producing lactic acid bacteria strains was evaluated on cold-smoked salmon. Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum and Carnobacterium piscicola were added singly or in association to cold-smoked salmon, artificially contaminated with Listeria innocua and stored under vacuum for 30 days at 4 degrees C. All the lactic cultures were able to inhibit Listeria innocua growth, showing a bacteriostatic or bactericidal effect, without affecting negatively the sensory quality of the product. Lactobacillus casei was bacteriostatic when inoculated at 6 log cfu/g, but bactericidal at 8 log cfu/g, reducing Listeria innocua of 3.3 log cfu/g in comparison with the test at the end of storage. Lactobacillus plantarum and C. piscicola strains, inoculated singly at 6 log cfu/g reduced Listeria innocua counts of 2.8 and 2.7 log cfu/g, respectively, compared with the test. The association Lactobacillus casei-Lactobacillus plantarum was the most effective among the treatments with 6 log cfu/g inoculum, as Listeria innocua counts decreased of 3.2 log cfu/g compared with the test. The treatment with Lactobacillus casei-C. piscicola association was less effective than C. piscicola alone.     

Potassium lactate combined with sodium diacetate can inhibit growth of Listeria monocytogenes in vacuum-packed cold-smoked salmon and has no adverse sensory effects

Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat fish products such as cold-smoked salmon is an important food safety issue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antilisterial activity of potassium lactate (PL) in combination with sodium acetate (SA) or sodium diacetate (SDA) in cold-smoked salmon and to determine whether these compounds could be incorporated easily into the formulations and technology currently used by processors. A commercial brine injector was used to inject salmon filets with either saturated saline brine or saturated saline brine supplemented with combinations of PL and SA (PURASAL Opti.Form PA 4) or PL and SDA (PURASAL Opti.Form PD 4). In the brine-injected cold-smoked salmon, 2.1% (water phase) PL and 0.12% (water phase) SDA delayed the growth of L. monocytogenes for up to 42 days of vacuum-packaged storage at 10 degrees C. Storage at 25 degrees C for 6 h resulted in only a 1-log CFU/g increase in L. monocytogenes. Treatments with lower concentrations of PL and SDA or similar concentrations of PL and SA resulted in an extended lag phase and slower growth of L. monocytogenes. It was not possible to incorporate more than 2% (water phase) PL while ensuring a minimum of 3% (water phase) NaCl in the finished product because PL decreased the solubility of NaCl. Sensory analyses revealed that the preservatives did not negatively affect flavor or odor. The combination of PL and SDA is therefore a viable technology for preventing L. monocytogenes growth on cold-smoked salmon.     

Lactic acid bacteria as protective cultures against Listeria spp. on cold-smoked salmon

Three bacteriocin producing (Bac⁺) strains of Lactobacillus sakei were used singly and in combination with each other as protective cultures to control the growth of listeria in cold-smoked salmon. Challenge experiments were conducted under practical conditions in a smokehouse. The surface of salmon sides was inoculated with 10⁴ cfu/g of Listeria innocua and 10⁷ cfu/g of Bac⁺ lactic acid bacteria as well as a L. sakei Bac⁻ control. After smoking the counts of listeria and lactic acid bacteria were determined at days 1 and 14. All Bac⁺ L. sakei strains reduced the counts of L. innocua by >2 log units. Strain LTH5754 was an isolate from cold-smoked salmon and achieved even a 5 log reduction of L. innocua within the storage period. In vitro experiments showed, that the Bac⁺ strains were also effective against L. monocytogenes (three strains tested) and L. ivanovii (1 strain). The pH as well the sensorial properties of the smoked salmon were not affected by the L. sakei inocula.     

Control of Listeria monocytogenes on cold-smoked salmon using chitosan-based antimicrobial coatings and films

The relatively high incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) products such as cold-smoked salmon is of serious concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of chitosan-based edible coatings and films incorporating 3 generally recognized as safe (GRAS) antimicrobials, sodium lactate (SL), sodium diacetate (SD), and potassium sorbate (PS), against L. monocytogenes on cold-smoked salmon. Salmon samples were surface-inoculated with a 5-strain cocktail of Listeria monocytogenes to a final concentration of 4.4 log CFU/cm(2) and then either coated with chitosan solutions or wrapped with chitosan films with or without the 3 antimicrobials. The samples were then vacuum packaged and stored at 4 °C for 30 d. The chitosan coatings with or without the antimicrobials consistently showed higher efficacy against L. monocytogenes than chitosan films having the same compositions. The most effective film treatments, chitosan films containing 1.2% SL/0.25% SD or 2.4% SL, achieved ≥ 1.3 log reductions of L. monocytogenes during the 30 d of refrigerated storage, while the most effective coating treatments, chitosan coatings containing 1.2% SL/0.25% SD or 0.15% PS/0.125% SD, achieved ≥ 2.8 log reductions. Practical Application: This study shows that chitosan-based edible coatings and films hold promise and can potentially assist fishery industries in their efforts to control L. monocytogenes.     

A contribution to the improvement of Listeria monocytogenes enumeration in cold-smoked salmon

For the enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes in food, a sensitive enumeration method based on membrane filtration followed by transfer of the filter to a selective medium has been developed. This study was carried out with cold-smoked salmon, a product likely to be contaminated with L. monocytogenes. The operating protocol utilizes three filtration runs in parallel (5, 15 and 30 ml) of a 1 in 10 dilution of the salmon suspension through 0.45-microm pore-size cellulose ester membranes, and then culture of the filters on Aloa agar (AES Laboratoires, Combourg, France). The results obtained with the technique were compared with those from the reference EN ISO 11290-2 method and found to provide more precise results in the enumeration of L. monocytogenes from both artificially and naturally contaminated cold-smoked salmon. Moreover, for several samples contaminated at low levels, L. monocytogenes could be recovered only by the filtration method. The examination of increasing volumes of salmon suspension enabled readable results to be obtained for all levels of L. monocytogenes and competitive microflora investigated. In most cases, the optimised operating protocol enabled 5.1 g of salmon to be examined, instead of 0.01-0.1 g with the reference EN ISO 11290-2 method, thus improving the sensitivity of the method.     

Use of nisin-coated plastic films to control Listeria monocytogenes on vacuum-packaged cold-smoked salmon

Cold-smoked (Salmo salar) salmon samples were surface-inoculated with a cocktail of three nisin-resistant strains of L. monocytogenes (PSU1, PSU2 and PSU21) to a level of approximately 5 x 10(2) or 5 x 10(5) CFU/cm2 of salmon surface. The inoculated smoked salmon samples were vacuum-packaged with control film (no nisin) or nisin-coated plastic films and stored at either 4 or 10 degrees C. When the inoculated smoked salmon samples were packaged with film coated with 2000 IU/cm2 of nisin, a reduction of 3.9 log CFU/cm2 (compared with control) was achieved at either temperature for samples inoculated with 5 x 10(2) CFU/cm(2 of L. monocytogenes after 56 (4 degrees C) and 49 (10 degrees C) days of storage while reductions of 2.4 and 0.7 log CFU/cm2 were achieved for samples inoculated with a high level of L. monocytogenes (5 x 10(5) CFU/cm2) after 58 (4 degrees C) and 43 (10 degrees C) days, respectively. For samples packaged in film coated with 500 IU/cm2 of nisin, reductions of 0.5 and 1.7 log CFU/cm2 were achieved for samples inoculated with a low level of L. monocytogenes (5 x 10(2) CFU/cm2) after 56 (4 degrees C) and 49 (10 degrees C) days of storage while reductions of 1.8 and 0.8 log CFU/cm2 were achieved for samples inoculated with high level of L. monocytogenes after 58(4 degrees C) and 43 (10 degrees C) days, respectively. In addition, nisin inhibited the proliferation of background microbiota on smoked salmon in a concentration-dependent manner at both storage temperatures although the bacteriostatic effect was more pronounced at refrigeration temperature. This work highlights the potential for incorporating nisin into plastic films for enhancing the microbial safety of smoked salmon as well as controlling its microbial spoilage.     

Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in vacuum-packed, smoked salmon, during storage at 4 degrees C.

Samples of smoked salmon of different hygienic quality were inoculated with low (6 cfu/g) and high (600 cfu/g) levels of a mixture of three strains of Listeria monocytogenes, after which they were vacuum-packed and stored at 4 degrees C for up to 5 weeks. L. monocytogenes grew well during storage in all the inoculated sample groups. Growth was, however, slightly faster in the fish with the better hygienic quality. The smoked salmon was still sensorically acceptable after 4 weeks. All three strains were found after 4 weeks in the fish with the better quality, while only two strains were recovered after the same time from the poorer quality salmon.     

Diversity of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from cold-smoked salmon produced in different smokehouses as assessed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA analyses

One hundred and forty-eight Listeria monocytogenes isolates originating from vacuum packed cold-smoked salmon produced in 10 different Danish smokehouses were compared by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiling. A total of 16 different reproducible RAPD profiles were obtained using a standardised RAPD analysis by four primers separately. The grouping of the 148 strains was exactly the same for the four primers used. For a sub-set of 20 strains typed by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), only one strain was allocated into a different group as compared to the grouping by RAPD typing. Different RAPD types dominated in products from different smokehouses. Some identical RAPD types were isolated in several smokehouses. In each of four smokehouses, one particular RAPD type could be repeatedly isolated from products. Each smokehouse/product carried its own specific RAPD type and this may indicate a possible persistence of closely related strains of L. monocytogenes in smokehouses.     

Effect of inoculation of Carnobacterium divergens V41, a bio-preservative strain against Listeria monocytogenes risk, on the microbiological, chemical and sensory quality of cold-smoked salmon

The aim of this study was to develop a bio-preservation strategy for cold-smoked salmon (CSS) by the use of lactic acid bacteria previously selected for their capability to inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in the product. The spoiling potential of three Carnobacterium strains (Carnobacterium divergens V41, Carnobacterium piscicola V1 and SF668) was tested in sterile CSS blocks inoculated by 10(4-5) CFU g(-)(1) and stored under vacuum for 9 days at 4 degrees C followed by 19 days at 8 degrees C. C. divergens V41 grew a little faster than the other strains and none of the three carnobacteria showed any adverse effect on quality of the product, i.e. no off-odour detected by a trained panel, no total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) production, no acidification and no biogenic amine except a slight production of tyramine. An application on commercial CSS was tested by spraying C. divergens V41 (10(4-5) CFU g(-1)) on slices of four batches freshly processed in different smoke-houses. Microbial, chemical and sensory characteristics were weekly compared to a control during 4 weeks of vacuum storage. When the natural microflora was initially weak (two batches<20 CFU g(-1)), C. divergens V41 quickly reached 10(7-8) CFU g(-1) and a slight inhibition of endogenous Enterobacteriaceae, lactobacilli and yeasts was observed. The presence of C. divergens V41 was slightly detected (odour and flavour) but none of the sample was considered as spoiled by the sensory panel. When the natural microflora was initially high (2 batches>10(4-5) CFU g(-1)), no effect on the microflora, TVBN and biogenic amine production, nor on the sensory characteristics was observed in presence of C. divergens V41. In conclusion, bio-preservation of CSS using lactic acid bacteria such as C. divergens V41 is a promising way to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria such as L. monocytogenes with low effect on the quality of the product.     

Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by Carnobacterium spp. strains in a simulated cold smoked fish system stored at 4 degrees C.

Preservation of smoked salmon from bacterial spoilage, and especially from Listeria monocytogenes by bacteriocin producers is a promising challenge. Over a hundred lactic acid bacteria, isolated from commercial vacuum packaged cold smoked salmon, were screened for their antagonistic activity against L. innocua. Twenty-two strains were able to produce bacteriocin-like proteinaceous substances. These strains were characterized physiologically and biochemically as Carnobacterium strains. Three different groups were determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis after Sma I and Apa I DNA digestion. Peptidoglycan hydrolases patterns completed the characterization of these strains. All were confirmed as being Carnobacterium piscicola. Growth and bacteriocin production of three strains of each group and two well known bacteriocin producers (C. divergens V41 and C. piscicola V1) were tested in a simulated cold smoked fish system at 4 degrees C. These strains were able to reach 10(8) cfu ml(-1) in 21 days and to produce as much bacteriocin activities in the cold smoked fish system as in the rich media. Carnobacterium divergens V41 and C. piscicola V1 were the most effective strains in co-culture experiments, inhibiting L. monocytogenes as early as day 4, whereas C. piscicola SF668 inhibiting effect was observed at day 13. The potential for using such biopreservation treatments on whole smoked salmon is discussed.     

Growth control of Listeria monocytogenes on cold-smoked salmon using a competitive lactic acid bacteria flora.

A Lactobacillus sake strain LKE5 and four strains of Carnobacterium piscicola were evaluated as biopreservation cultures to control the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on vacuum-packed, cold-smoked salmon stored at 5 degrees C. All five strains were antilisterial as live cultures in an agar diffusion assay. Cell-free supernatants of two strains of C. piscicola and L. sake LKE5 were also antilisterial because of the production of bacteriocins. The presence of high cell numbers of strains of C. piscicola had no influence on the sensory quality of cold-smoked salmon stored at 5 degrees C, but L. sake LKE5 caused strong sulfurous off-flavors and was rejected as a culture for biopreservation of cold-smoked salmon. A bacteriocin-producing strain of C. piscicola (A9b) initially caused a 7-day lag phase of L. monocytogenes, followed by a reduction in numbers of L. monocytogenes from 10(3) CFU/ml to below 10 CFU/ml after 32 days of incubation, coinciding with the detection of antilisterial compounds. The presence of a nonbacteriocin-producing strain of C. piscicola (A10a) prevented the growth of L. monocytogenes during the 32-day incubation. The growth of L. monocytogenes was strongly repressed on cold-smoked salmon in the presence of C. piscicola A9b and A 10a, respectively. The initial cell numbers of L. monocytogenes that were found on Oxford plates incubated at 25 degrees C reached low maximum cell counts of 10(4) and 2 x 10(3) after 14 and 20 days of storage in mixed culture with C. piscicola A9b and A10a.     

Effectiveness of chitosan-coated plastic films incorporating antimicrobials in inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes on cold-smoked salmon

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of chitosan-coated plastic films incorporating five Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) antimicrobials (nisin, sodium lactate (SL), sodium diacetate (SD), potassium sorbate (PS) and sodium benzoate (SB)) against Listeria monocytogenes on cold-smoked salmon. Salmon samples were surface-inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes and packaged in chitosan-coated plastic films containing 500 IU/cm(2) of nisin, 9 mg/cm(2) of SL, 0.5 mg/cm(2) of SD, 0.6 mg/cm(2) of PS, or 0.2 mg/cm(2) of SB, and stored at room temperature (ca. 20 degrees C) for 10 days. The film incorporating SL was the most effective, completely inhibiting the growth of L. monocytogenes during 10 days of storage. L. monocytogenes in samples packaged in the other four antimicrobial films grew, but the increase in counts was lower than the control. The antilisterial efficacy of films containing lower concentrations of SL (2.3 mg/cm(2) and 4.5 mg/cm(2)) and binary combinations SL, PS, SD, SB and nisin were subsequently evaluated. Among all the treatments, chitosan-coated plastic films with 4.5 mg/cm(2) SL, 4.5 mg/cm(2) SL-0.6 mg/cm(2) PS and 2.3 mg/cm(2) SL-500 IU/cm(2) nisin were the most effective. These three most effective antimicrobial films were then tested at refrigerated temperature. They completely inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes on smoked salmon for at least 6 weeks. Chitosan-coated plastic films containing 4.5 mg/cm(2) SL can potentially assist the smoked-salmon processing industry in their efforts to control L. monocytogenes.     

Evaluation of an enumeration method for Listeria monocytogenes at low contamination levels in cold-smoked salmon

For the enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes in cold-smoked salmon, a sensitive enumeration method, based on membrane filtration followed by transfer of the filter on a selective medium has been recently developed (Gnanou Besse et al., 2004, A contribution to the improvement of L. monocytogenes enumeration in cold-smoked salmon. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 91, 119-127). The aim of the study was to assess the performance of this enumeration method through an inter-laboratory study, using cold-smoked salmon artificially contaminated at 2 different levels (approximately 0.6 and 1.6 log10 CFU g(-1)). A reproducibility standard deviation of 0.23 log10 CFU g(-1)and 0.15 log10 CFU g(-1) was obtained for the method respectively at the lower level and the higher level. Under certain conditions, the uncertainty of measurement can be derived from the method reproducibility standard deviation and was calculated to be 0.46 log10 CFU g(-1) for the lower contamination level and 0.30 log10 CFU g(-1) for the higher contamination level. These values can be considered as satisfactory for such low contamination levels.     

Longitudinal study on the sources of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in cold-smoked salmon and its processing environment in Italy

The aim of the present study was to investigate the sources of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in a cold smoked salmon processing environment over a period of six years (2003-2008). A total of 170 samples of raw material, semi-processed, final product and processing surfaces at different production stages were tested for the presence of L. monocytogenes. The L. monocytogenes isolates were characterized by multiplex PCR for the analysis of virulence factors and for serogrouping. The routes of contamination over the six year period were traced by PFGE. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 24% of the raw salmon samples, 14% of the semi-processed products and 12% of the final products. Among the environmental samples, 16% were positive for L. monocytogenes. Serotyping yielded three serovars: 1/2a, 1/2b, 4b, with the majority belonging to serovars 1/2a (46%) and 1/2b (39%). PFGE yielded 14 profiles: two of them were repeatedly isolated in 2005-2006 and in 2007-2008 mainly from the processing environment and final products but also from raw materials. The results of this longitudinal study highlighted that contamination of smoked salmon occurs mainly during processing rather than originating from raw materials, even if raw fish can be a contamination source of the working environment. Molecular subtyping is critical for the identification of the contamination routes of L. monocytogenes and its niches into the production plant when control strategies must be implemented with the aim to reduce its prevalence during manufacturing.     

Use of PFGE typing for tracing contamination with Listeria monocytogenes in three cold-smoked salmon processing plants

The sites of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in three cold-smoked salmon (Salmo salar) processing plants were detected by sampling salmon and the plant's environment and equipment at different production stages. Of the 141 samples collected from three processing plants, 59 (42%) were contaminated with L. monocytogenes. The rates of contamination varied as to the plant and the sample source. L. monocytogenes isolates from 17 various contaminated seafood products (fresh, frozen and smoked fishes, cooked mussels) were also studied. A total of 155 isolates from the three plants and the various seafoods were characterized by genomic macrorestriction using ApaI and SmaI with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and 82 isolates were serotyped. Macrorestriction yielded 20 pulsotypes and serotyping yielded four serovars: 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, 4b (or e), with 77 (93%) belonging to serovar 1/2a. One clone of L. monocvtogenes predominated and persisted in plant I and was the only pulsotype detected in the final product although it was not isolated from raw salmon. No L. monocytogenes was detected in the smoked skinned salmon processed in plant II, even though 87% of the raw salmon was contaminated. All the smoked salmon samples collected in plant III were contaminated with a unique clone of L. monocytogenes, which may have occurred during slicing. In the three plants, the contamination of final products did not seem to originate from the L. monocytogenes present on raw salmon, but from the processing environment.     

Influence of processing steps in cold-smoked salmon production on survival and growth of persistent and presumed non-persistent Listeria monocytogenes

Cold-smoked salmon is a ready-to-eat product in which Listeria monocytogenes sometimes can grow to high numbers. The bacterium can colonize the processing environment and it is believed to survive or even grow during the processing steps. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the steps in the processing of cold-smoked salmon affect survival and subsequent growth of a persistent strain of L. monocytogenes to a lesser degree than presumed non-persistent strains. We used a sequence of experiments increasing in complexity: (i) small salmon blocks salted, smoked or dried under model conditions, (ii) fillets of salmon cold-smoked in a pilot plant and finally, (iii) assessment of the bacterial levels before and after processing during commercial scale production. L. monocytogenes proliferated on salmon blocks that were brined or dipped in liquid smoke and left at 25 degrees C in a humidity chamber for 24 h. However, combining brining and liquid smoke with a drying (25 degrees C) step reduced the bacterium 10-100 fold over a 24 h period. Non-salted, brine injected or dry salted salmon fillets were surface inoculated with L. monocytogenes and cold-smoked in a pilot plant. L. monocytogenes was reduced from 10(3) to 10-10(2) CFU/cm(2) immediately after cold-smoking. The greatest reductions were observed in dry salted and brine injected fillets as compared to cold-smoking of non-salted fresh fillets. Levels of L. monocytogenes decreased further when the cold-smoked fish was vacuum-packed and stored at 5 degrees C. A similar decline was seen when inoculating brine injected fillets after cold-smoking. High phenol concentrations are a likely cause of this marked growth inhibition. In a commercial production facility, the total viable count of salmon fillets was reduced 10-1000 fold by salting, cold-smoking and process-freezing (a freezing step after smoking and before slicing). The prevalence of L. monocytogenes in the commercial production facility was too low to determine any quantitative effects, however, one of nine samples was positive before processing and none after. Taken together, the processing steps involved in cold-smoking of salmon are bactericidal and reduce, but do not eliminate L. monocytogenes. A persistent strain was no less sensitive to the processing steps than a clinical strain or strain EGD.     

Tracing Listeria monocytogenes isolates from cold-smoked salmon and its processing environment in Iceland using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes contamination of cold-smoked salmon (n=125) and its processing environment (n=522) were evaluated during surveys conducted in 1997-1998 and 2001 as well as in samples of final products analysed in 2001. The overall frequencies of Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes in samples from all sources were 15.1% and 11.3%, respectively, but the incidence of L. monocytogenes in cold-smoked salmon final products was only 4%. A total of 201 L. monocytogenes isolates were characterised by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) in order to trace L. monocytogenes contamination in the processing plants. The combination of AscI and ApaI macrorestriction patterns yielded 24 different pulsotypes in 6 plants. One pulsotype observed by AscI restriction digestion comprised 148 of the 167 typed isolates from two processing plants. Two other pulsotypes predominated in samples from raw material, processing environments and final products. The results indicate that raw material, floors, and drains are potential sources of the L. monocytogenes found on cold-smoked salmon products. This highlights the need to readdress the design and cleaning of processing plants and equipment, and staff behavior. Hindering the introduction into and spread of the organism through the processing environment is necessary to avoid jeopardizing safety of the final product.     

Effect of temperature, water-phase salt and phenolic contents on Listeria monocytogenes growth rates on cold-smoked salmon and evaluation of secondary models

Salting and smoking are ancient processes for fish preservation. The effects of salt and phenolic smoke compounds on the growth rate of L. monocytogenes in cold-smoked salmon were investigated through physico-chemical analyses, challenge tests on surface of cold-smoked salmon at 4 degrees C and 8 degrees C, and a survey of the literature. Estimated growth rates were compared to predictions of existing secondary models, taking into account the effects of temperature, water phase salt content, phenolic content, and additional factors (e.g. pH, lactate, dissolved CO2). The secondary model proposed by Devlieghere et al. [Devlieghere, F., Geeraerd, A.H., Versyck, K.J., Vandewaetere, B., van Impe, J., Debevere, J., 2001. Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in modified atmosphere packed cooked meat products: a predictive model. Food Microbiology 18, 53-66.] and modified by Giménez and Dalgaard [Giménez, B., Dalgaard, P., 2004. Modelling and predicting the simultaneous growth of Listeria monocytogenes and spoilage micro-organisms in cold-smoked salmon. Journal of Applied Microbiology 96, 96-109.] appears appropriate. However, further research is needed to understand all effects affecting growth of L. monocytogenes in cold-smoked salmon and to obtain fully validated predictive models for use in quantitative risk assessment.     

Effects of a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance from Carnobacterium piscicola against human and salmon isolates of Listeria monocytogenes

The aim of this study was to characterize the antagonism of a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) produced by Carnobacterium piscicola L103 against Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from salmon and human samples. The inhibitory effect of the BLIS was evaluated in Tryptic soy agar (TSA) during different growth phases of L. monocytogenes at 5 degrees C, using the well diffusion method. Also, the type of inhibition, either bacteriostatic or bactericidal of the BLIS in Tryptic soy broth (TSB), was studied and the development of resistant cells investigated.Results showed an antagonistic effect of the BLIS on all the strains of L. monocytogenes. Four selected strains presented a higher sensitivity to the BLIS in the exponential growth phase and were more resistant in the stationary phase. In TSB, the inhibitory substance showed a partially bactericidal effect on L. monocytogenes. After inactivation of the BLIS with a protease, however, a regrowth of L. monocytogenes was found. The isolate most affected by the action of the BLIS was one of salmon origin. From the 86 isolated colonies that grew in the presence of the BLIS, 93% showed total resistance and 7% partial resistance, which was maintained through five consecutive culture cycles in the absence of the BLIS.