Enhanced Recovery of Salmonella montevideo from Onion Powder by the Addition of Potassium Sulfite to Lactose Broth

Abstract

Abstract The use of K2SO3 in lactose broth pre-enrichment media was studied as a means of enhancing the recovery of salmonellae from onion powder. Salmonella montevideo was inoculated at several dilutions into lactose broth containing varying amounts of onion powder, with and without the addition of 0.5 g K2SO3. Recovery was improved when K2SO3 was added. In another series of determinations, 0.5 g K2SO3 was added to lactose broth and the S. montevideo initial inocula were varied from approximately 5 to 5 × 107 organisms; the amount of onion powder was also varied (0.1 to 12 g). Results show that when 3 to 10 g onion powder was used, 0.5 g K2SO3 in lactose broth enhanced the recovery of S. montevideo.