Comparison of Selective Direct Plating Media for Enumeration and Recovery of L. monocytogenes from Cold-process (smoked) Fish

Abstract

Three selective media were evaluated for direct plating recovery and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes in the presence of high levels of a variety of microorganisms occurring on cold-process (smoked) salmon products. Sliced salmon was brined to contain either no added salt, 3, or 5% water-phase NaCl, or 3 or 5% NaCl plus 140 ppm NaNO2. The slices were packaged in oxygen-permeable film or sealed under vacuum in oxygen-impermeable film, and stored at 10°C or 5°C until total microbial loads reached 106 to 109 CFU/g. Oxford formulation of Listeria selective agar and Lee's modification of Listeria selective agar achieved quantitative recovery of 102 cells per ml of L. monocytogenes strain Scott A in the presence of diluted slurries of these fish containing 104 to 108 CFU/ml of background organisms. A modification of lithium chloride-phenylethanol-moxalactam agar containing an iron-esculin indicator system sometimes failed because of interfering growth by the background microflora.