Deterministic and probabilistic predictive microbiology-based indicator of the listeriosis and microbial spoilage risk of pasteurized milk stored in residential refrigerators Academic Article in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • © 2019 Elsevier LtdFollowing deterministic and probabilistic predictive microbiology procedures, cumulative 48 h exponential growth estimates were obtained for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and Pseudomonas putida (Pp) as preservation effectiveness indicators for pasteurized milk stored in the middle door shelf of a residential refrigerator set at 5 °C. Experimental factors studied were refrigerator load, door openings, compressor operating in variable (VS) or ON/OFF single speed (SS) mode, room temperature (TChamber = 32.2/21.1 °C), and milk exposure to TChamber (replicating product use). The 32.2 °C/high load condition yielded deterministic 48 h exponential growth estimates (¿logN48h, log10 N CFU/mL) of 1.6 ± 0.1/1.5 ± 0.1 for Lm and 5.0 ± 0.3/4.7 ± 0.3 for Pp (replicate-1/replicate-2, VS, milk kept in refrigerator). The corresponding 5¿95% probabilistic ¿logN48h intervals were 1.0¿2.3 and 3.4¿6.6, respectively. Considering new technologies seeking to lower the temperature of products stored in door shelves, the analysis was repeated using simulated data obtained by lowering experimental temperatures by Tred (°C), a value determined for each test condition and keeping milk above 2 °C with 90% certainty. For the same previous conditions, deterministic ¿logN48h estimates for temperatures lowered by Tred= 4.5¿4.8 °C, yielded ¿logN48h of 0.06 ± 0.0 for Lm and 2.6 ± 0.1 for Pp. These results highlight the importance of improving the temperature control of residential refrigerator door shelves.

publication date

  • January 1, 2020

published in

  • LWT  Journal