Renata Ernlund Freitas de Macedo

Desenvolvimento de embutido fermentado por Lactobacillus probióticos: características de qualidade

Probiotic Lactobacillus strains have been widely used in dairy products. Recently, attention has been directed to the use of probiotics in meat products, mainly in fermented sausages. The effect of the utilization of Lactobacillus casei, L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus strains on physicalchemical, microbiological and sensory quality of fermented sausage was evaluated. The sausages were processed in four batches: one was used as the control, while the other three batches received one of the probiotic strains each. The manufacturing procedure described for Italian salami with 25 days of fermentation and ripening was followed. The presence of probiotic Lactobacillus resulted in a faster pH decrease, which affected the taste of the probiotic sausages. There was an increase in acid notes, mostly in the sausage containing L. rhamnosus. The lactobacilli strains also decreased the growth of Staphylococcus xylosus; however, they did not affect the number of Pediococcus pentosaceus and the acceptability of the sausages in the sensory evaluation. All Lactobacillus strains showed an increase in viable cell count during manufacturing and this parameter remained high until the end of ripening. The viability of the utilization of probiotic Lactobacillus, especially L. paracasei and L. casei, in fermented sausage, maintaining the quality characteristics of the product, was demonstrated.

Evaluation of antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. isolated from broiler carcasses

Abstract 1. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter strains (C. jejuni, C. coli and C. lari) isolated from broiler carcasses processed in the State of Paraná, Brazil. 2. Rates of microbial resistance and susceptibility were assessed by both Disk Diffusion (DD) and Etest (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) techniques. Antibiotics were tested using DD (12 antibiotics) and/or MIC (7 antibiotics) methods. 3. A total of 95.8% of the strains were resistant to at least two agents. In terms of multidrug resistance, 75% of strains were resistant to three or more groups of antibiotics. The highest rates of resistance were detected for cefalotin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and nalidixic acid. A high rate of susceptibility of the strains to erythromycin (95.8%) was found confirming that this is considered the agent of choice for treating campylobacteriosis. Comparison of the microbial resistance and susceptibility, as determined simultaneously by the two methods, found the techniques to be statistically equivalent for 5 out of the 6 antibiotics tested. 4. The results of this study suggest the need for adopting measures to control the use of antibiotics in broiler production to prevent multidrug resistance of Campylobacter strains and reduce the risk of serious human diseases caused by the consumption of contaminated chicken meat.

Effect of heat treatment and packaging systems on the stability of fish sausage

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological stability of sausages produced from mechanically separated fish meat (MSM) obtained from Nile tilapia filleting residues. Different heat treatments (pasteurization or smoking) and packaging systems (conventional or vacuum) were used. The sausages were characterized for chemical composition, weight loss, water activity, instrumental texture and sensorial analysis. Additionally, microbiological analysis, instrumental color, pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) were assessed during storage. No presence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. or coagulase-positive Staphylococcus was detected; however, the psychrotrophic count in pasteurized sausages exceeded the limits allowed for consumption. pH and lipid oxidation speed (TBARS) values were reduced when vacuum packaging was used. Volatile nitrogenous bases remained virtually constant during the storage period, and higher values were observed in smoked products. Pasteurized sausages remain stable for 10 and 15 days in conventional and vacuum packages, respectively, and smoked sausages remain stable for 25 and 45 days in conventional and vacuum packages, respectively.

Probiotic Meat Products

The growing concern of consumers regarding the food health and safety issues has led to the development of products that promote health and well-being beyond its nutritional effect [1]. Functional foods are those which promote beneficial effects to human s health beyond nutrition. Their effects are due to the addition of active ingredients, the removal or the replacement of undesirable compounds in its composition [2].

Microbiota of sausages obtained by spontaneous fermentation produced in the South of Brazil

The study of the ecology of fermented sausage is fundamental to understand the physical and chemical changes that happen during fermentation and maturation. The aim of the present study was to determine the microbiological characteristics of sausages produced by spontaneous fermentation. Fifty samples of sausages produced in the South of Brazil by different small manufacturers were analyzed for the following microbiota: aerobic mesophilic bacteria; Micrococcaceae; mold and yeast; lactic acid bacteria; total and fecal coliforms; coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, and Salmonella. In most samples (72%), the count of lactic bacteria was higher than 6 log 10 cfu.g -1 , and the samples with the highest counts were above 8 log 10 cfu.g -1 . The counts of Micrococcaceae in most samples were between 5 log 10 and 7 log 10 cfu.g -1 . With respect to the presence of molds and yeasts, there was a significant variation among the samples with counts ranging from 2 log 10 cfu.g -1 and 6 log 10 cfu.g -1 . From the data obtained, it was possible to conclude that 24% of the analyzed samples did not comply with the current law in Brazil since the levels of fecal coliforms or coagulase-positive Staphylococcus exceeded the maximum limit allowed.

Avaliação de diferentes alíquotas de enxaguadura para a contagem pelo método direto de Campylobacter spp. em carcaças de frango resfriadas

The direct method for detecting and enumerating Campylobacter spp. in chicken meat is easy to perform, but the volumes of 100μL and 400μL, as recommended in some methodologies, are often unable to achieve the colonies counts due to the occurrence of confluent growth or microbial contaminants. This study aimed at evaluating the different volumes for rinsing chicken meats in order to minimize the interference of microbial contaminants, without compromising the sensitivity of direct methodology. Rinse volumes of 5, 10, 50, 100 and 400μL were tested using the modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) and modified Bolton agar. The presence of Campylobacter was confirmed by phenotypic methods and PCR assay. However, the strategy of using less than 100 μL of rinse volumes did not improve the isolation and enumeration of Campylobacter colonies, because it reduces the sensitivity of the assay. Thus, a possible solution to minimize the interference of microbial contaminants would be in developing new selective media or incorporate them into other existing antimicrobial drugs.

Acetic acid as an intervention strategy to decontaminate beef carcasses in mexican commercial slaughterhouse

Beef can be contaminated during the slaughter process, thus other methods, besides the traditional water washing, must be adopted to preserve meat safety. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 2% acetic acid interventions on the reduction of indicator bacteria on beef carcasses at a commercial slaughterhouse in Mexico. Reduction was measured by the count of mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TPC), total coliform (TC), and fecal coliform (FC) (log CFU/ cm 2 ). Among the different interventions tested, treatments combining acetic acid solution sprayed following carcass water washing had greater microbial reduction level. Acetic acid solution sprayed at low pressure and longer time (10-30 psi/ 60 s) reached higher TPC, TC, and FC reductions than that obtained under high pressure/ shorter time (1,700 psi/ 15 s; P<0.05). Exposure time significantly affected microbial reduction on carcasses. Acetic acid solution sprayed after carcass washing can be successfully used to control sources of indicator bacteria on beef carcasses under commercial conditions.

Combination of garlic essential oil, allyl isothiocyanate, and nisin Z as bio-preservatives in fresh sausage

The effects of natural antimicrobial compounds (garlic essential oil [GO], allyl isothiocyanate [AITC], and nisin Z [NI]) on microbiological, physicochemical and sensory characteristics of fresh sausage were assessed. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) towards Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Lactobacillus plantarum were determined in vitro. Sausages inoculated with E. coli O157:H7, were treated with different combinations of antimicrobials and assessed for microbiological and physicochemical parameters during storage (6C for 20 d). Treatments that presented the greatest antimicrobial effects were subjected to sensory evaluation. Combinations of 20 mg/kg NI + 125 μL/kg GO + 62.5 μL/kg AITC or 20 mg/kg NI + 62.5 μL/kg GO + 125 μL/kg AITC were effective in reducing E. coli O157H7 and spoilage lactic acid bacteria, and maintained the physicochemical characteristics of fresh sausage. Combinations of NI, GO and AITC were effective to improve the safety and the shelf life of fresh sausage, with no impact on its sensory acceptance.

Combination of essential oil compounds and phenolic acids against Escherichia coli O157:H7 in vitro and in dry-fermented sausage production

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The low dose of infection and severity of the disease represent a concern to public health. Natural compounds have been widely applied as food additives to replace synthetic preservatives. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of essential oil compounds (EOCs) in combination with phenolic acids (PA) in vitro and in dry-fermented sausage production. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Fractional Inhibitory Concentration index (FICindex) were determined for a 5-strain mixture of E. coli O157:H7. Batches of sausage tainted with E. coli O157:H7 were produced using Pediococcus pentosaceus UM 116P and Staphylococcus carnosus UM 123M as starter cultures. The best combination of EOCs and PAs found in vitro was used as an additive. Chemical-physical and microbiological analyses were evaluated weekly from day 0 to 35 after production. Sensory evaluation (texture, odor, flavor, appearance and overall evaluation) of E. coli-free sausages was conducted using a 9-point hedonic scale with 56 untrained volunteers. The MIC values of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), carvacrol (CAR), ferulic acid (FA), o-coumaric acid (CA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (AHB) were, respectively, 0.25; 1.3; 5.12; 18.27; and 37mM. AITC combined with CA had a synergistic effect (FICindex=0.25) and together they were applied in the production of dry fermented sausage at concentrations of 10× FIC and 20× FIC. Aw had no significant difference among treatments, whereas the pH of 10× FIC and 20× FIC were higher than the control. E. coli O157:H7 was reduced by >5logCFU/g with 20× FIC after 21d, and by 2.8logCFU/g with 10× FIC after 35d. Sensory analysis showed that the combination of AITC and ο-coumaric acid in both treatments presented lower scores in the 5 categories when compared to the control, but none of the parameters received a negative score. This study demonstrated that the combination of AITC and ο-coumaric acid at 20× FIC reduced E. coli O157:H7 in compliance with the North American legislation, but adjustments in the dose are necessary to improve the sensory characteristics of the final product.

Nisin Activity Against Contaminant Bacteria Isolated From Bioethanol Fermentation Tanks

Natalia Maia, Rachel Rigotti, Renata Silva, Bruna Lange, Giuseppe Meca (II), Renata Macedo, Fernando Luciano. Nisin Activity Against Contaminant Bacteria Isolated From Bioethanol Fermentation Tanks. In: Anais do 12o Congresso Latinoamericano de Microbiologia e Higiene de Alimentos MICROAL 2014 [= Blucher Food Science Proceedings, num.1, vol.1]. Sao Paulo: Editora Blucher, 2014. DOI 10.5151/foodsci-microal-339 Nisin Activity Against Contaminant Bacteria Isolated From Bioethanol Fermentation Tanks