Influence of organic acid concentration on survival of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli 0157:H7 in beef carcass wash water and on model equipment surfaces

Abstract

Acid-adapted cultures of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes were inoculated in meat decontamination spray-washing runoff fluids in order to evaluate their survival and potential to form biofilms on stainless steel coupons. The cultures (10 7 cfu ml −1) and stainless steel coupons were exposed to mixtures of water and organic acid washings (composites of each of 2% acetic acid or lactic acid washings with water washings from meat decontamination in proportions of 1/9, 1/49, 1/99 [vol/vol]) or to water washings for up to 14 days at 15°C. E. coli O157:H7 formed biofilms and remained detectable (⩾1.3 log cfu cm −2) on stainless steel for up to 4 d in the 1/9 dilution (pH 3.17–3.77) of the organic acid washings, and persisted throughout storage (14 d) in the 1/49 (pH 3.96–4.33) and 1/99 (pH 4.34–6.86) dilution of the organic acid washings. L. monocytogenes populations were unable to form detectable (<1.3 log cfu cm −2) biofilms in the 1/9 and 1/49 dilutions of both organic acid washings for up to 14 d; however, by day-14 in the 1/99 dilution of the washings, the pathogen was able to attach at detectable levels (2.7 to 3.4 logs). The pH effects of lower concentrations (1/49 or 1/99) of acidic washings decreased over time due to the formation of amine compounds produced by the natural meat flora, allowing resuscitation of the acid-stressed pathogen survivors. The resuscitation of acid-stressed pathogens may potentially enhance their survival and prevalence in biofilms and thus more attention should be focused on avoiding or minimizing the collection of decontamination runoff fluids on food contact equipment surfaces.