Effects of pulsed electric fields on pathogenic microorganisms of major concern in fluid foods: a review

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2008 Sep;48(8):747-59. doi: 10.1080/10408390701691000.

Abstract

Pathogenic microorganisms such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Campylobacter jejuni have been implicated in foodborne diseases and outbreaks worldwide. These bacteria have been associated with the consumption of fresh fruit juices, milk, and dairy products, which are foodstuff, highly demanded by consumers in retails and supermarkets. Nowadays, consumers require high quality, fresh-like, and safe foods. Pulsed electric field (PEF) is a non-thermal preservation method, able to inactivate pathogenic microorganisms without significant loss of the organoleptic and nutritional properties of food. The PEF treatment effectiveness to destroy bacteria such as Listeria innocua, E. coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli 8739 at pasteurization levels (> or = 5.0 log(10) cycles) in some fluid foods was reported. However, data on the inactivation of some microorganisms such as Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Campylobacter jejuni in fluid foods by PEF processing is very limited. Therefore, future works should be focused toward the inactivation of these pathogenic bacteria in real foods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / pathogenicity*
  • Beverages / microbiology*
  • Cattle
  • Electric Stimulation / methods*
  • Escherichia coli O157 / pathogenicity
  • Escherichia coli O157 / physiology
  • Food Preservation / methods*
  • Listeria monocytogenes / pathogenicity
  • Listeria monocytogenes / physiology
  • Milk / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology