Experimentally Implementing the Linear Nonisothermal Equation for Simultaneously Obtaining D- and z-Values of Salmonella Senftenberg in Skim Milk with a Differential Scanning Calorimeter.

Abstract: For bacteria with log-linear thermal inactivation kinetics in food, D-values are obtained in multiple isothermal inactivation experiments at different temperatures, and the z-value is obtained from these D-values. In a previous work, the cumulative lethality integral was mathematically solved in closed form when temperature in the food increased linearly with time. The solution revealed that each nonisothermal experiment could yield both D- and z-values, eliminating the need for getting multiple D-values to get a z-value.

Nonuniformity of Temperatures in Microwave Steam Heating of Lobster Tail.

The biennial Conference for Food Protection provides a formal process for all interested parties to influence food safety guidance. At a recent conference, an issue was raised culminating in a formal request to the U.S.

Effect of Fill Temperature on Clostridium botulinum Type A Toxin Activity during the Hot Filling of Juice Bottles.

The potential threat of terrorist attacks against the United States food supply using neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum (BoNT) has resulted in the need for studying the effect of various food process operations on the bioavailability of this toxin. The objective of this study was to evaluate C. botulinum type A neurotoxin bioavailability after a simulated hot fill juice bottling operation.

Effect of sporulation temperature on the resistance of Clostridium botulinum type A spores to thermal and high pressure processing.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sporulation temperature on the resistance of Clostridium botulinum type A spores of strains 62A and GiorgioA to thermal and high pressure processing (HPP). Spore crops produced in Trypticase-peptone-glucose-yeast extract broth at four incubation temperatures (20, 27, 37, and 41°C) were harvested, and heat resistance studies were conducted at 105°C (strain 62A) and 100°C (strain GiorgioA). Resistance to HPP was evaluated by subjecting the spores to a high pressure (700 MPa) and temperature combination (105°C, strain 62A; 100°C strain GiorgioA) in a laboratory-scale pressure test system.

Tracking and modeling norovirus transmission during mechanical slicing of globe tomatoes.

Recent epidemiological evidence indicates that preparation of fresh produce for use as ingredients in ready-to-eat food in commercial settings has been a significant source of the norovirus (NoV) infections in the U.S. This research investigated the dissemination of NoV from a single tomato to many others via the use of an 11-horizontal blade slicer commonly found in restaurants or sandwich shops.

Effect of growth on the thermal resistance and survival of Salmonella Tennessee and Oranienburg in peanut butter, measured by a new thin-layer thermal death time device.

In published data the thermal destruction of Salmonella species in peanut butter deviates from pseudo-first-order kinetics. The reasons for such deviation are unknown. This study examined both the method used to measure the thermal destruction rate and the method of growth of the microorganisms to explain variations in destruction kinetics.

Thermal death time measurement using thin flexible sleeves: a new experimental approach for determining microbial destruction kinetics in fluids of arbitrary viscosity.

The thermal death time kinetics of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) was measured in buffer, egg yolk, and albumen using thin layer plastic sleeves. The sleeves allowed for the loading and sampling of liquids of high or unusual viscosity, as in the case of yolk and albumen, and accepted relatively large volumes (2 to 3 ml) of fluid. The sleeves maintained the volume of the fluid in a thin layer and could be easily handled for heat exposure.

Modification of the submerged coil to prevent microbial carryover error in thermal death studies.

A submerged coil unit generates death rate data for foodborne pathogens through precise computer-controlled sequential sampling rather than the usual manually timed, labor-intensive single sampling associated with other approaches. Our work with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Listeria monocytogenes Scott A using the submerged coil unit indicated non-log-linear death rates with large degrees of tailing. Varying degrees of cell adhesion to the surface of the exit port resulted in carryover that was likely the primary cause of these non-log-linear kinetics.