Inhibition, survival and growth of Listeria monocytogenes on poultry as influenced by buffered lactic acid treatment and modified atmosphere packaging

Abstract

The effect of the treatment with various concentrations (2%, 5% and 10% w/v) of lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer (pH 3.0), modified atmosphere (MAP) packaging (90% CO 2 and 10% O 2) and 10% (w/v) lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer (pH 3.0) combined with MAP on Listeria monocytogenes Z7 serotype 1 and on the shelf life of chicken legs stored at 6°C was investigated. The initial contamination level of L. monocytogenes on the chicken legs surface was 8.3×10 2 cfu/cm 2 of skin. After 2 days of storage at 6°C the number of L. monocytogenes on legs treated with 2%, 5%, 10% lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer (pH 3.0) and 10% lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer (pH 3.0) combined with MAP was significantly lower than the initial number of L. monocytogenes. Later, growth of L. monocytogenes was observed. After 13 days of storage at 6°C the number of L. monocytogenes on legs treated with 10% lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer (pH 3.0) combined with MAP was still similar to the initial number. Legs treated with 2%, 5%, 10% lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer (pH 3.0), MAP and 10% lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer (pH 3.0) combined with MAP, have a shelf life at 6°C of respectively 8, 9, 10, 13 and 17 days. This means a prolongation of 2, 3, 4, 7 and 11 days, respectively for storage at 6°C. The antimicrobial effect of lactic acid buffer systems (pH 3.0) increased with increasing concentrations of lactic acid in the buffered system. The best results were obtained by the combined use of 10% acid/sodium lactate buffer (pH 3.0) and MAP.