Germination of spores of Bacillus cereus in milk and milk dialysates: effect of heat treatment.

Abstract

Summary. The germination of spores of Bacillus cereus was studied in milk and in media consisting of the low M.W. fraction of milk. Dialysates, centrifugates, filtrates and acid whey supported germination to an extent similar to that in the milk from which they were derived. HTST (72° for 15 sec) pasteurized milk or derived media supported appreciable germination whereas raw milk or media derived from it supported little or none. Whey produced by the action of rennet was an exception in that it was equally stimulatory for germination whether derived from raw or pasteurized milk. Heat treatments for 15 see using temperatures between 65–75° rendered the milk most suitable as a germination medium but temperatures > 80° were necessary for spore activation. Of the 2 effects, activation was the more important; at treatment temperatures > 80° germination was increased despite the less favourable medium which resulted. The extent of germination in pasteurized milk varied with different isolates and could be related to their source, those from pasteurized milk germinating the most readily. The practical implications of these findings are discussed together with the preliminary work to examine the nature of the germination factor(s) produced during HTST pasteurization.