Use of Mechanically Separated Spleen in Frankfurters

Beef and pork frankfurters were produced with 0, 5, 10, and 15% of the meat block being mechanically separated spleen (MSS). No fatting or peelability problems were experienced. Frankfurters were held at 2°C and evaluated at 2-wk intervals for 6 wk. Consumer panelists rated all products acceptable. A bi-monthly laboratory taste panel evaluated all frank furters (except the 15% product) acceptable during storage. Allo-Kramer shear values decreased with increased MSS, Frankfurters with 5, 10, and 15% MSS had 2.2, 3.9, and 4.9 times more iron than the control, respectively. Level of MSS did not influence bacterial numbers.     

AN ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNITy DEVELOPMENT NEEDS CRITERIA

Objectives needs criteria adopted by local housing and community development administrators are typically not direct measures of urban blight; rather they are labels for disadvantaged circumstances assumed to be associated with adverse living conditions. This case study of Portland, Oregon, addresses the question of whether such criteria (1) document the actual presence of blighting problems, and (2) can be identified in spatial concentrations for the purpose of geographical targeting. The results of hypothesis tests, correlations, and factor analysis show strong positive relationships among most but not all locally adopted criteria. Findings support the conclusion that the principal benefits test and neighborhood strategy area concept, both integral to the original CDBG program, are still valid.     

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR USE IN THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

A simulation model that assesses the risk of acquiring salmonellosis from consumption and handling of chicken was created in an Excel ™ spreadsheet and was simulated using Risk ™. The model simulated the distribution, preparation, and consumption of 1,000 chickens and was designed to determine the relationship between the level of Salmonella contamination on chickens at the processing plant exit and the risk of salmonellosis for consumers of the chickens. A scatter plot of the probability of acquiring salmonellosis from consumption of the chickens simulated versus the Salmonella load on the chickens at the processing plant exit clearly showed that highly (i.e., > 100 Salmonella/ bird) contaminated chickens at the plant exit did not necessarily pose greater risk of salmonellosis than lightly (i.e., < 10 Salmonella/ bird) contaminated chickens at the plant exit. Rather, greater risk of salmonellosis was realized from lightly contaminated chickens when they were temperature-abused, undercooked, and consumed by someone from the high risk population.     

EFFECT OF CHILLING AND FREEZING ON SURVIVAL OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS ON FISH FILLETS1

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a foodborne pathogen isolated from coastal waters of the United States, and from seafoods including fish. No information is available on the viability of V. parahaemolyticus on raw, chilled and frozen fish. A three‐strain mixture of V. parahaemolyticus was inoculated on fish fillets (pH 6.4) to obtain a bacterial load of 10⁴ (high) or 10³ (low) CFU/fillet, and stored at 4C or 8C for 9 days or at – 18C for seven weeks. At 4C and 8C, and at both levels of inoculation, V. parahaemolyticus survived on the fillets for the entire duration of the study. However, there was a significant reduction (P < 0.01) in V. parahaemolyticus population on the fillets by 9 days of storage. In the frozen fillets, there was a sharp decline (P < 0.01) in the population of V. parahaemolyticus by day 5 of storage. Although chilling and freezing significantly (P < 0.01) inactivated high numbers of V. parahaemolyticus on fish, they cannot be relied upon as a method to reduce V. parahaemolyticus on fish, since the time and magnitude of reduction depends on the initial load of the pathogen and the storage temperature.     

Quantification of Factors Which Influence Nisin's Inhibition of CIostridium botulinum 56A in a Model Food System

We modeled nisin's anticlostridial activity and assessed the antagonistic or potentiating influences of food ingredients. The model systems contained yeast extract, proteose peptone, and glucose; were supplemented with protein (0.075, 0.75, 7.5% w/v), phospholipid (0.075, 0.75, 7.5% w/v), or soluble starch (5, 17.5, 30% w/v); and were adjusted to pH 5.5, 6.0, or 6.5. Samples inoculated with 10⁴/mL spores were incubated at 15, 25, or 35°C. Statistical analysis developed an equation (r²= 0.76) that modeled the response and identified temperature as the most significant (α 0.001) variable. Nisin lost effectiveness with increasing temperature. Nisin concentration had significant positive and phospholipid negative, linear effects. Many interactive effects were significant (α 0.20). Nisin inhibited C. botulinum until its residual level dropped below a threshold, which decreased from 154 IU/mL at 35°C to 12 IU/mL at 15°C.     

Current and emerging molecular diagnostic technologies applicable to bacterial food safety

There is an increasing need for rapid test methods to certify the quality and safety of food products. Current tests applied for the microbiological assessment of food products are based on standard approved culture-based isolation methods and can take several days to yield results. Nucleic acid diagnostic (NAD) tests for the identification of bacterial foodborne pathogens employing in vitro amplification technologies are capable of sensitive and specific detection of single or multiple pathogens in foods in a shorter timeframe than traditional methods. New developments in molecular biosensors have the potential to provide at-line bioanalysis, whereas microarray-based technologies may in the future be the NAD platforms of choice for multiple pathogen detection and identification. This article reviews current and emerging NAD platforms for foodborne bacterial pathogens that have the potential to impact food safety.     

Immobilized α-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis: a potential enzymic time—temperature integrator for thermal processing

Biphasic and nth-order models were tested as to their usefulness to fit experimental inactivation data of Bacillus licheniformis α-amylase, immobilized on glass beads, and were discussed with respect to their suitability to characterize the considered enzymic system as a time—temperature integrator (TTI) to evaluate heat processes. Both isothermal and non-isothermal inactivation experiments were carried out. Model (kinetic) parameters (rate constant k, activation energy E_A and reaction order n) were estimated using a non-linear regression procedure. The results obtained, especially the activation energy of about 293 kJ mole^–1, indicated a potential use of this system as a TTI for heating processes in the temperature range of 96–108°C.     

A SURVEY OF THE PREVALENCE OF SALMONELLA AND OTHER ENTERIC PATHOGENS IN A COMMERCIAL POULTRY FEED MILL

A study of the prevalences of Salmonella, Listeria and thermophilic campylobacters in a dedicated commercial poultry feed mill was undertaken. Salmonella was frequently recovered in samples taken in the preheat and postheat treatment areas of the mill with the overall percentage of samples positive found to be 18.8% and 22.6%, respectively. Feed ingredients and dust collected in the preheat treatment locations within the mill were frequently contaminated with Salmonella (11.8% and 33.3% of samples, respectively). High prevalences of Salmonella were also detected in dust samples (24.2%) obtained from the postheat treatment area of the mill and from feed delivery vehicles (57.1%).
Listeria was also recovered from samples at pre- and postheat treatment areas within the mill with overall isolation rates of 14.1% and 18.5% observed, respectively. The most frequently observed species of Listeria recovered from samples in both areas within the mill was L. innocua, L. monocytogenes, L. grayi and L. welshimeri.
No thermophilic campylobacters were recovered from any of the samples analyzed in the current study.