Growth of Listeria monocytogenes at 4, 32, and 40°C in Skim Milk and in Retentate and Permeate from Ultrafiltered Skim Milk

Abstract

Pasteurized skim milk and retentate (concentrated fivefold or twofold by volume) and permeate from ultrafiltered skim milk were inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes strains California or V7 and incubated at 4, 32, or 40°C. Changes in populations of the pathogen were determined, growth curves were derived, and generation times and maximum populations calculated for each combination of strain, product, and temperature. Both strains grew faster and achieved higher (ca. 1 to 2 orders of magnitude) populations at 4°C in retentate of either concentration than in skim milk. The pathogen grew in permeate at 4°C and attained maximum populations of ca. 106 to 107/ml. Tyndallized samples of skim milk and retentate and permeate from ultrafiltered skim milk were inoculated with the same strains of L. monocytogenes and incubated at 32 or 40°C. Populations achieved by the pathogen at these temperatures, ca. 107 to 108/ml, were similar in skim milk, retentate, and permeate.