Control of Listeria monocytogenes on frankfurters and cooked pork chops by irradiation combined with modified atmosphere packaging

J Food Prot. 2012 Jun;75(6):1063-70. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-11-528.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of controlling Listeria monocytogenes on frankfurters and cooked pork chops with irradiation and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) containing a high concentration of CO(2). Frankfurters and cooked pork chops were inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes and packaged in vacuum or high-CO(2) MAP. Irradiation was applied to each product at 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 kGy. No significant packaging effect was found for the radiation sensitivity of L. monocytogenes. Radiation D(10)-values for L. monocytogenes were 0.66 ± 0.03 and 0.70 ± 0.05 kGy on frankfurters and 0.60 ± 0.02 and 0.57 ± 0.02 kGy on cooked pork chops in vacuum and high-CO(2) MAP, respectively. High-CO(2) MAP was more effective than vacuum packaging for controlling the growth of survivors during refrigerated storage. These results indicate that irradiation and high-CO(2) MAP can be used to improve control of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meats.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Consumer Product Safety
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Food Contamination / analysis
  • Food Contamination / prevention & control
  • Food Irradiation*
  • Food Microbiology
  • Food Packaging / methods*
  • Food Preservation / methods
  • Humans
  • Listeria monocytogenes / growth & development*
  • Listeria monocytogenes / radiation effects
  • Meat Products / microbiology*
  • Meat Products / radiation effects
  • Refrigeration
  • Time Factors
  • Vacuum

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide