Teresa C. Podtburg

Control of Listeria spp. by competitive-exclusion bacteria in floor drains of a poultry processing plant

ABSTRACT In previous studies workers determined that two lactic acid bacterium isolates, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis C-1-92 and Enterococcus durans 152 (competitive-exclusion bacteria [CE]), which were originally obtained from biofilms in floor drains, are bactericidal to Listeria monocytogenes or inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes both in vitro and in biofilms at 4 to 37°C. We evaluated the efficacy of these isolates for reducing Listeria spp. contamination of floor drains of a plant in which fresh poultry is processed. Baseline assays revealed that the mean numbers of Listeria sp. cells in floor drains sampled on six different dates (at approximately biweekly intervals) were 7.5 log10 CFU/100 cm2 for drain 8, 4.9 log10 CFU/100 cm2 for drain 3, 4.4 log10 CFU/100 cm2 for drain 2, 4.1 log10 CFU/100 cm2 for drain 4, 3.7 log10 CFU/100 cm2 for drain 1, and 3.6 log10 CFU/100 cm2 for drain 6. The drains were then treated with 107 CE/ml in an enzyme-foam-based cleaning agent four times in 1 week and twice a week for the following 3 weeks. In samples collected 1 week after CE treatments were applied Listeria sp. cells were not detectable (samples were negative as determined by selective enrichment culture) for drains 4 and 6 (reductions of 4.1 and 3.6 log10 CFU/100 cm2, respectively), and the mean numbers of Listeria sp. cells were 3.7 log10 CFU/100 cm2 for drain 8 (a reduction of 3.8 log10 CFU/100 cm2), <1.7 log10 CFU/100 cm2 for drain 1 (detectable only by selective enrichment culture; a reduction of 3.3 log10 CFU/100 cm2), and 2.6 log10 CFU/100 cm2 for drain 3 (a reduction of 2.3 log10 CFU/100 cm2). However, the aerobic plate counts for samples collected from floor drains before, during, and after CE treatment remained approximately the same. The results indicate that application of the two CE can greatly reduce the number of Listeria sp. cells in floor drains at 3 to 26°C in a facility in which fresh poultry is processed.

Reduction by competitive bacteria of Listeria monocytogenes in biofilms and Listeria bacteria in floor drains in a ready-to-eat poultry processing plant.

The ability of Listeria monocytogenes and two competitive exclusion (CE) bacteria, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis strain C-1-92 and Enterococcus durans strain 152, to form biofilms on coupons composed of different materials (stainless steel, plastic, rubber, glass, and silicone) was determined at 4 and 8 °C. Biofilm characteristics were determined by scanning electron microscopy. L. monocytogenes produced well-formed biofilms within 24 h at 37 °C on coupon surfaces. Treating Listeria-laden biofilms with the CE isolates individually at either 4 or 8 °C for 3 weeks substantially reduced or eliminated listeriae in the biofilms. Treatment with L. lactis subsp. lactis strain C-1-92 and E. durans strain 152 at 4 °C for 3 weeks reduced the population of L. monocytogenes in a biofilm from 7.1 to 7.7 log CFU/cm2 to 3.0 to 4.5 log CFU/cm2 and to 3.1 to 5.2 log CFU/cm2 , respectively, and treatment at 8 °C for 3 weeks reduced L. monocytogenes from 7.5 to 8.3 log CFU/cm2 to 2.4 to 3.5 log CFU/cm2 and to 3.8 to 5.2 log CFU/cm2, respectively, depending on the coupon composition. These two CE isolates were combined and evaluated for control of Listeria bacteria in floor drains of a ready-to-eat poultry processing plant. The results revealed that treating the floor drains with CE four times in the first week eliminated detectable Listeria bacteria from five of six drains, and the drains remained free of detectable Listeria bacteria for 13 weeks following the first four treatments. These studies indicate that CE can effectively reduce Listeria contamination in biofilms and in flow drains of a plant producing ready-to-eat poultry products.

Use of octanoic acid as a postlethality treatment to reduce Listeria monocytogenes on ready-to-eat meat and poultry products

The antilisterial efficacy and organoleptic impact of an octanoic acid (OA)-based treatment for ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products were investigated. Whole-muscle and comminuted RTE products were inoculated with a five-strain mixture of Listeria monocytogenes. The OA treatments were applied to the surface of RTE products by dispensing a specific volume of solution directly into the final package prior to vacuum sealing. Once sealed, the vacuum-packaged RTE products containing OA were immersed in water heated to 93.3 degrees C (200 degrees F) for 2 s to effect adequate film shrinkage. Extending the time at which the packaged, treated RTE products were exposed to water heated to 93.3 degrees C was also evaluated with a commercial cascading shrink tunnel fitted with a modified drip pan. Once treated, RTE products were examined for survivor populations of L. monocytogenes after 24 h of storage at 5 degrees C. Sensory evaluation was conducted with a 60-member trained panel on 11 uninoculated, treated RTE products. The OA treatment of RTE products reduced L. monocytogenes numbers to between 0.85 log CFU per sample (oil-browned turkey) and 2.89 log CFU per sample (cured ham) when compared with controls. The antilisterial activity of OA was improved by increasing the duration of the heat shrink exposure. Specifically, reductions of L. monocytogenes ranged from 1.46 log CFU per sample (oil-browned turkey) to 3.34 log CFU per sample (cured ham). Results from the sensory evaluation demonstrated that 10 of the 11 treated RTE products were not perceived as different (P < or = 0.05) from the untreated controls. Panelists detected reduced (P < or = 0.05) smoke flavor intensity with treated mesquite turkey, although the treated product was viewed as acceptable. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of OA as a postlethality treatment meeting U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service regulatory guidelines for RTE meat and poultry products with minimal impact on sensory quality.