Heat resistance in Escherichia coli and its implications on ground beef cooking recommendations in Canada

This study assessed the adequacy of the current cooking recommendations in relation to heat resistant Escherichia coli by evaluating eight potentially heat resistant E. coli strains (four generic and four E. coli O157:H7) along with AW1.7. The D_60°C-values for these strains varied from 1.3 to 9.0 min, with J3 and AW1.7 being the least and most heat resistant strains, respectively. The D_60°C-values for E. coli 62 and 68 were similar and were not affected by growth medium, while the heat resistance of C37, J3, and AW1.7 varied with the growth medium. When heated in extra lean ground beef (100 g) in vacuum pouches, the mean D_54°C, D_57°C, and D_60°C-values were 44.8, 18.6, and 2.9 min for C37, 13.8, 6.9, and 0.9 min for J3, and 40.5, 9.1, and 6.1 min for AW1.7. Burger temperatures continued to rise after being removed from heat when the target temperature was reached, by 3–5°C, and resting of 1 min would result in a destruction of 133, 374 and 14 log C37, J3 and AW1.7. These findings along with the very low occurrence of heat resistant E. coli expected in ground beef show that cooking ground beef to 71°C should be adequate.     

The effect of temperature abuse on Clostridium perfringens in cooked turkey stored under air and vacuum

The potential for growth of Clostridium perfringens in aerobic and anaerobic (vacuum) packaged cooked ground turkey was investigated. Samples of autoclaved ground turkey were inoculated with ∼3·0 log₁₀ cfu g^-1 of C. perfringens strain NCTC 8238 or NCTC 8239, packaged and stored at various temperatures. Vegetative growth and heat-resistant spores were enumerated by plating unheated and heated (75°C for 20 min) samples, respectively, on tryptose-sulfite-cycloserine agar. The type of atmosphere influenced the growth of C. perfringens at 15 and 28°C. Both strains grew to about 7 logs within 9 h anaerobically and by 24 h aerobically at 28°C. While aerobic growth was slow at 15°C, mean log₁₀ cfu g^-1 increased anaerobically by 4-4·5 logs by day 8 for both strains. Spores were not found at 4 and 15°C, but were detected as early as 24 h at 2°C under anaerobic conditions in both strains. C. perfringens population stabilized or slowly decreased at 4°C. Cyclic and static temperature abuse of refrigerated products for 5 h will not permit C. perfringens growth. However, temperature abuse of such products for relatively long periods may lead to high and dangerous numbers of organisms. Reheating such products to an internal temperature of 65°C before consumption would prevent food-poisoning since the vegetative cells were killed.     

Chlorine Dioxide Inactivation of Bacillus and Clostridium Spores

Bacillus cereus T and F4810/72, B. stearothermophilus ATCC 1518, and Clostridium perfringens NCTC 8798 spore inactivation by 20, 50, and 80 mg chlorine dioxide (ClO₂)/L at three pH values (4.5, 6.5, 8.5) were evaluated. ClO₂ concentration, species and sporulation medium significantly (p < 0.001) affect spore sensitivity. B. cereus T sporulated in Modified G medium and B. stearothermophilus ATCC 1518 are similarly ClO₂ sensitive, and each is significantly more sensitive than Fortified Nutrient Agar-sporulated B. cereus T and F4810/72. The Bacillus spore populations are more ClO₂ sensitive than C. perfringens spore populations. Treatment pH affects C. perfringens but not Bacillus inactivation. Spores lacking intact coats are significantly more ClO₂ sensitive than the strains with coats intact.     

Influence of Pre-Soaking on Black Bean Cooking Kinetics

Soaking of black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and the subsequent effect on cooking kinetics was investigated. Unsoaked beans and beans soaked in water or a salt combination solution were water cooked at temperatures of 90–135°C. Bean softening did not follow first order kinetics. Using D_T values (defined as cooking times necessary to reach an “eating-soft” texture: Instron puncture force of 150g), softening activation energies (Ea's) for unsoaked, water, and salt combination soaked were 19.1, 31.3, and 38.9 Kcal/mole, respectively. Z values were calculated as 17, 22 and 36C°, respectively. These relationships suggest ways of safely reducing cooking time and energy expenditures.     

Thermal inactivation ofClostridium perfringensvegetative cells in ground beef and turkey as affected by sodium pyrophosphate

The heat resistance (55–65°C) ofClostridium perfringensvegetative cells in ground beef and turkey that included 0, 0.15 or 0.3% (w/w) sodium pyrophosphate (SPP) was assessed in bags heated using a water bath. The surviving cell population was assayed on tryptose–sulfite– cycloserine agar. The decimal reduction (D)-values in beef that included no SPP were 21.6, 10.2, 5.3, and 1.6min at 55, 57.5, 60, 62.5°C, respectively; the values in turkey ranged from 17.5min at 55°C to 1.3min at 62.5°C. Addition of 0.15% SPP resulted in concomitant decrease in heat resistance as evidenced by reduced bacterialD-values. TheD-values in beef that included 0.15% SPP were 17.9, 9.4, 3.5, and 1.2min at 55, 57.5, 60, and 62.5°C, respectively; the values in turkey ranged from 16.2min at 55°C to 1.1min at 62.5°C. The heat resistance was further decreased when the SPP level in beef and turkey was increased to 0.3%. Heating such products to an internal temperature of 65°C for 1min killed >8log₁₀cfug^-1. The z-values in beef and turkey for all treatments were similar, ranging from 6.22 to 6.77°C. Thermal death time values from this study should assist institutional food service settings in the design of thermal processes that ensure safety againstC. perfringensin cooked beef and turkey.     

Influence of Heating and Cooling Rates on Bacillus cereus Spore Survival and Growth in a Broth Medium and in Rice

Survival, spore germination, and growth of emetic and diarrheal type strains of Bacillus cereus were evaluated in broth and rice media during heating and cooling. Samples were heated to 80°C (20C°/hr or 40C°/hr) or 90°C (ca. 900C°/hr), prior to cooling to 10°C (5C°/hr or 10C°/hr). Following heating to 80°C, growth occurred during 5C°/hr cooling. After heating to 90°C, inactivation of three strains occurred during cooling from 90 to 80°C and again from 50 to 40°C. Great variability was observed among the responses of the four strains. Emetic strains exhibited greater survival than diarrheal strains. Rice reduced low temperature inactivation, and did not favor emetic strains. Significant two and three way interactions existed among media, strains, heating and cooling rates.     

Effect of Temperature, Solute and pH on the Tolerance of Clostridium perfringens to Reduced Water Activities

Two strains of C. perfringens type A (FDI and S45) were grown in Thioglycolate medium adjusted to a_ws of 0.995, 0.975, or 0.965 by the addition of NaCl, KCL or LiCl. Combinations of controlled and uncontrolled pHs (7.0, 6.5 and 6.0) and incubation temperatures of 45°C, 37°C, or 30°C were observed at each a_w. Maximal numbers of cells and shortest lag times occurred at a_w of 0.995, 45°C and pH 7.0. No growth occurred at a_w of 0.965. At 0.985, growth did not occur when KCl was used as the solute and the temperature and pH were 30°C and 6.0, respectively. NaCl was less inhibiting than KCl. LiCl inhibited growth completely.     

Quality Evaluation of an Ohmically Cooked Ham Product

Selected parameters (cooking loss, instrumental colour and texture and sensory quality) of a brine-injected pork muscle cooked by a novel and rapid ohmic cooking protocol were examined and compared with those obtained in conventionally cooked samples. Ohmic samples were cooked using either a low-temperature long-time (LTLT) protocol (2 min equilibration, 5 min ohmic heating to 70 °C, 8 min holding) or a high-temperature short-time (HTST) procedure (2 min equilibration, 6 min ohmic heating to 95 °C) performed within a hot air cabinet set at 80 °C (LTLT) and 100 °C (HTST). Conventional cooking (steam oven at 80 °C for 120 min) was conducted to a core temperature of 70 °C. The LTLT treatment gave a much lower cooking loss value (4–5% lower, p < 0.05) than the other treatments, though the full magnitude of this difference was not completely reflected in the proximate composition of the cooked products. Ohmically cooked ham showed a significantly (p < 0.05) lighter surface colour with Hunter L values of 65.3 (LTLT) and 63.5 (HTST) relative to the control (61.4). Texture profile analysis (TPA) indicated a significant difference (p < 0.05) in hardness (N) especially between the HTST surface (82.1 N) and the conventional centre (58.8 N). Although the ohmic cooking protocols yielded products with quite acceptable eating qualities, sensory evaluation found the overall quality of the conventionally cooked ham to be significantly (p < 0.05) superior, indicating that further optimisation of the ohmic cooking protocols would be required prior to any commercial adoption.     

Inactivation of Pectinesterase in Orange Juice by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Single strength orange juice was treated with supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) and the effect of process time, temperature and pressure on pectinesterase (PE) activity was determined. PE could be inactivated with supercritical CO₂ below temperatures necessary for thermal inactivation. Higher pressure, temperature and longer treatment time resulted in more inactivation. Inactivation kinetics showed activation energy was significantly reduced at SC C0₂ treatment at 31 MPa (97.4 KJ/mole), compared to identical treatments at atmospheric pressure (166.6 KJ/mole). D values ranged from 2673 min at atmospheric pressure and 40°C to 10 min at 31 MPa and 60°C. z value at atmospheric pressure was 8.8C°, and at 31 MPa 5.2C°.     

Dynamical Changes of Beef Intramuscular Connective Tissue and Muscle Fiber during Heating and their Effects on Beef Shear Force

Changes of meat shear force and its characteristics during cooking have been extensively studied, but great variability existed due to the cooking method among different studies. This study was designed to focus on the dynamic changes of beef intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT) and muscle fiber during water-bath heating and their effects on beef shear force. At 4 d postmortem, beef semitendinosus muscles were divided into 11 steaks and then cooked respectively to an internal temperature of 40, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, and 90°C (the remainder was not cooked as control). Collagen content and its solubility, transition temperature of perimysia and endomysia, fiber diameter, and Warner–Bratzler shear force values (WBSF) were determined. The results showed that fiber diameter decreased gradually during cooking, concomitant with the increases in filtering residue and WBSF. The maximum transition temperature (T _max) of endomysial components was lower than that of perimysial components (50.2 vs. 65.2°C). Muscle fiber and IMCT (especially perimysia) shrank during cooking, resulting in the increase of WBSF when the internal temperature was lower than 75°C, but further cooking led to the disintegration of perimysial structure, lowing up the increase of WBSF between 75 and 90°C. For beef semitendinosus muscle, the internal temperature of 65°C is a critical cooking point where meat gets tougher.     

Comparison of Sterilization Values from Heat Penetration and Spore Count Reduction in Agltating Retorts

Sterilization values from heat penetration (F_o) and spore count reduction (IS) were simultaneously measured in 7% food starch heated in 300 × 404 cans in an agitating retort. Thermal inactivation of the spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus was characterized by a 4 min lag period, a D_121.1 of 2.5 min, and a z of 8.2C°. Differences between IS and F_o were influenced by retort temperature, lag in inactivation, and z-value, for F_o values from 5 to 15. IS was generally higher than F_o for retort temperatures above 121.1°C. F values using the z of 8.2°C compared favorably to IS (corrected for the inactivation lag period) for retort temperatures between 115.0° and 126.1°C.     

Protein denaturation and water-protein interactions as affected by low temperature long time treatment of porcine longissimus dorsi

The relationship between water–protein interactions and heat-induced protein denaturation in low temperature long time (LTLT) treated pork Longissimus dorsi was investigated by combining low-field NMR T₂ relaxometry with DSC measurements and measures of shrinkage of porcine Longissimus dorsi heated to 53 °C, 55 °C, 57 °C and 59 °C for either 3 or 20 h. Water within the myofibrils, measured by NMR T₂₁ relaxation times, was affected by both temperature and holding time during LTLT treatment between 53 °C and 59 °C. The changes in NMR T₂₁ relaxation times were associated with decreased fiber diameter and increased cooking loss, revealing a relationship between transverse shrinkage, water–protein interactions and cooking loss. DSC measurements revealed a concomitant decrease in ΔH_68 °C, which suggests impact of collagen denaturation on the retention of water within the meat during LTLT treatment. Furthermore, a decrease in ΔH_75 °C suggested that prolonged cooking (20 h) resulted in actin denaturation leading to decreased T₂₁ relaxation times and higher cooking loss.     

Effect of Steam-Assisted Hybrid Cooking on Textural Quality Characteristics,Cooking Loss,and Free Moisture Content of Beef

Semitendinosus muscles were cooked in a steam-assisted hybrid oven and also convection ovens at three different oven temperatures (180, 210, and 240°C) until three different end point temperatures [65°C (medium-rare), 72°C (medium), 80°C (medium-well)] were reached. Textural properties of cooked beef were investigated by the Warner Bratzler shear test and texture profile analysis. Cooking loss and free moisture content of muscle tissue was determined for each cooking condition. In addition, sensory analysis was carried out in order to compare with the instrumental results and correlations between instrumental texture parameters and sensory results. Steam-assisted hybrid oven cooking of beef resulted in a tougher texture, higher cooking loss, and lower free moisture content than convection cooking. High correlation coefficients (r² > 0.70) were observed between instrumental texture measurements and sensory results for all ovens, especially in terms of tenderness. The free moisture content and adhesiveness values were also correlated well with juiciness (r² > 0.70) for all oven types.     

Low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the effects of heating temperature and time on braised beef

We investigated the characteristics of water mobility and distribution in Chinese braised beef after treatment at different temperatures for different times using low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR). The beef was heated at 45, 55, 65, 75, 85 or 95 °C for 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. Results showed that T₂ changed significantly with heating temperature. T₂₁ and A₂₁ decreased significantly with increasing temperature below 65 °C, with a steady phase from 75 to 95 °C, which agreed with cooking loss. Inversely, T₂₂ had no changes below 65 °C and changed apparently from 75 to 95 °C. The change in T₂₁ below 65 °C may be related to proteins denaturation and shrinkage and, above 65 °C, T₂₂ possibly induced by the dissolution of connective tissue. The characteristics of braised beef at 65 °C were different from those at other temperatures in T₂ distributions. The findings could provide a theoretical basis for the processing of Chinese braised beef.     

Post-packaging Pasteurization Reduces CIostridiur perfringens and Other Bacteria in Precooked Vacuum-packaged Beef Loin Chunks

Precooked beef loin chunks were vacuum packaged after inoculation with Clostridium perfringens vegetative cells or spores. The control group was uninoculated. Chunks were either nonpasteurized or pasteurized, and stored at 4°C for up to 85 days. Pasteurization reduced populations of vegetative cells (VC) and vegetative cells from spores (VCS) of C. perfringens on beef chunks throughout 85 days of refrigerated storage. Without pasteurization, constant populations of VC and VCS were maintained for 28 and 65 days, respectively. Indige-nous microflora populations of nonpasteurized beef chunks increased for up to 28 days and remained high thereafter. Pasteurization prevented the microflora from exceeding populations of 200 log₁₀/cm² (surface) or mL (broth) for 85 days of storage. Pasteurization increased the shelf-life of precooked beef loin chunks.     

Formation of amino-imidazo-azaarenes and carbolines in fried beef patties and chicken breasts under different cooking conditions in Korea

The effect of cooking temperature and time on amino-imidazo-azaarenes (AIAs) and carbolines in fried ground beef patties and chicken breast under different cooking conditions in Korea was evaluated. Beef patties were fried at different temperatures (150, 180, and 230°C) for 4, 8, 12, and 16 min per each side and then the amount of AIAs and carbolines was evaluated by solid-phase extraction and HPLC-MS analysis. In fried ground beef patties, formations of 9H-pyrido [3,4-b]indole (Norharman) and 1-methyl-9H-pyrido [3,4-b]indole (Harman) were dramatically increased at 230°C for 16 min. Concentrations of Norhanrman and Harman formed at 230°C for 16 min/side were 12 and 40 times greater than level those of Norharman formed at same cooking condition. In fried chicken breasts, 2-amino-3,7,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoxaline (7,8-DiMeIQx) and 2-amino-3,4,7,8-tetramethylimidazo[ 4,5-f]quinoxaline (Tri-MeIQx) were not found at 150 and 180°C. Norhanrman formed at 230°C for 16 min was approximately 4 times higher than fried chicken breasts at 180°C. These results suggest that increase of cooking temperature and time was directly affected on AIAs and carbolines formation in Korean cooked meat.     

Mathematical modeling of growth of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in raw ground beef

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the growth of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC, including serogroups O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) in raw ground beef and to develop mathematical models to describe the bacterial growth under different temperature conditions. Three primary growth models were evaluated, including the Baranyi model, the Huang 2008 model, and a new growth model that is based on the communication of messenger signals during bacterial growth. A 5 strain cocktail of freshly prepared STEC was inoculated to raw ground beef samples and incubated at temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 °C at 5 °C increments. Minimum relative growth (<1 log₁₀ cfu/g) was observed at 10 °C, whereas at other temperatures, all 3 phases of growth were observed. Analytical results showed that all 3 models were equally suitable for describing the bacterial growth under constant temperatures. The maximum cell density of STEC in raw ground beef increased exponentially with temperature, but reached a maximum of 8.53 log₁₀ cfu/g of ground beef. The specific growth rates estimated by the 3 primary models were practically identical and can be evaluated by either the Ratkowsky square‐root model or a Bělehrádek‐type model. The temperature dependence of lag phase development for all 3 primary models was also developed. The results of this study can be used to estimate the growth of STEC in raw ground beef at temperatures between 10 and 35 °C. Practical Application: Incidents of foodborne infections caused by non‐O157 Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) have increased in recent years. This study reports the growth kinetics and mathematical modeling of STEC in ground beef. The mathematical models can be used in risk assessment of STEC in ground beef.     

Growth of Clostridium perfringens spores inoculated in sous-vide processed Korean traditional Galbijjim under different storage conditions

To evaluate the microbiological safety of Korean traditional seasoned beef processed by sous-vide method, Clostridium perfringens spores were inoculated into the samples, and then germination and growth of spores were observed under different temperatures for days. Also, changes in pH, water activity, and salt contents were analyzed. As the results, there was no difference in water activity and pH of the samples during the storage at any temperature. However, salt contents of the samples significantly increased as storage time increased, and the storage temperature affected the change of salt contents. C. perfringens did not grow at 4 and 10°C for 24 days however, the bacterial growth was observed at 20°C after 2 days of storage. Based on these simulation tests, the microbiological safety of sous-vide processed galbijjim can be guaranteed at 4 and 10°C for 24 days even though the raw materials were contaminated by C. perfringens spores.     

Assessment of maximum cooking temperatures of previously heat treated beef. part 2: Differential scanning calorimetry

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was studied as a potential method for the determination of the previous heat treatment of beef. Samples of beef (M longissimus dorsi) from eight bulls were heat treated at nine different temperatures between 50 and 85°C and subsequently analysed by DSC. The DSC method was able to determine the previous heat treatment temperature of the beef samples with a prediction error of 0.6°C in the temperature range 50–72°C. when multivariate analysis of the full DSC-thermograms was used. This indicates that DSC has potential applicability as a regulatory method to assess the maximum cooking temperature of previously heat treated beef.     

Inactivation Kinetics of Listeria innocua in Skim Milk in a Continuous Flow Processing System

Thermal inactivation of Listeria innocua in raw skim milk determined under continuous flow conditions was compared to results from the capillary tube method at 65, 68, and 70°C. A laboratory scale pasteurizer (LSP) was used to generate kinetic data under isothermal, continuous-flow conditions. Inactivation was monitored by sampling at various locations along the hold tubes. D_(657°C)-, D_(65°C)- and D_(70°C)- values for L. innocua M1 were 11.5, 3.5, and 1.6 sec, respectively, when determined by the LSP system and 16.5, 3.9,1.5 sec, respectively, when determined by the capillary tube method. Decimal reduction times for the two methods were predicted to be coincident at 69°C. Z_D-values for the capillary tube and LSP systems were significantly different. The data suggest that the mechanism of thermal destruction may be different between batch and continuous flow processes.