Takhar SR, Ibarra-Sánchez LA, Miller MJ. Effect of antimicrobial treatments applied individually and in combination on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Queso Fresco at 3 different temperatures.
JDS COMMUNICATIONS 2022;
3:307-311. [PMID:
36340902 PMCID:
PMC9623663 DOI:
10.3168/jdsc.2022-0219]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
A combination of antimicrobial treatments provides a more effective approach against L. monocytogenes growth in QF.
PlyP100 + NIS was the most effective treatment for L. monocytogenes growth in QF.
Listeria monocytogenes can grow up to dangerously high levels regardless of the storage temperature in untreated QF.
EPL + LAE are good candidates to further evaluate for improving safety of QF during cold storage.
Temperature abuse dramatically reduces the effectiveness of the tested antilisterials in QF.
Queso fresco (QF), a fresh soft cheese, is one of the most popular Hispanic cheeses in the United States and is frequently associated with Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks. Listeria monocytogenes can grow and thrive at room temperature as well as refrigeration temperatures. A combination of antimicrobial agents provides a larger spectrum of listeriostatic and listeriocidal activity resulting in a more effective approach toward the control of L. monocytogenes. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of 3 Food and Drug Administration-approved generally recognized as safe (GRAS) antimicrobials, nisin (NIS), lauric arginate ethyl ester (LAE), and ε-polylysine (EPL), and the endolysin PlyP100 individually and in combination for control of L. monocytogenes in QF at 4°C, 7°C, and 10°C. Additionally, growth curves of L. monocytogenes were obtained in BHI broth and QF at these temperatures. In order for an antimicrobial to be considered a postlethality treatment for L. monocytogenes, it should not allow an increase of more than 2-log over the product's shelf life. Three treatments, PlyP100, PlyP100 + NIS, and EPL + LAE, effectively kept the pathogen below the 2 log growth threshold at 4°C. However, at 7°C and 10°C, none of the antimicrobial treatments could inhibit L. monocytogenes growth (i.e., <2 log). Overall, our results suggest the importance of considering the effect of cold storage temperatures above 4°C on the antilisterial efficacy of antimicrobial treatments in QF.
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