Dose of UV light required to inactivate Listeria monocytogenes in distilled water, fresh brine, and spent brine.

The purpose of this research was to establish the dose of UV light (253.7 nm) needed to inactivate Listeria monocytogenes in distilled water, fresh brine (9% NaCl), spent brine, and diluted (5, 35, and 55%) spent brine, using uridine as a chemical actinometer. Strains N1-227 (isolated from hot dog batter), N3-031 (isolated from turkey franks), and R2-499 (isolated from meat) were mixed in equal proportions and suspended in each solution prepared so as to contain 10(-4) M uridine. Samples were irradiated in sterile quartz cells for 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 min. Inactivation was evaluated by serially diluting samples in 0.1% peptone, by surface plating in duplicate onto modified Oxford agar and Trypticase soy agar with yeast extract, and by enrichment in brain heart infusion broth, followed by incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 to 48 h. For dose measurements, the absorbance (262 nm) was measured before and after irradiation. Differences were observed in population estimates depending on the solution (P < or = 0.05). Reductions were as follows from greatest to least: water > fresh brine > 5% spent brine > 35% spent brine > 55% spent brine > undiluted spent brine. UV light did not significantly reduce populations suspended in spent brine solutions. L. monocytogenes decreased to below the detection limit (1 log CFU/ml) at doses greater than 33.2 mJ/cm(2) in water and at doses greater than 10.3 mJ/cm(2) in fresh brine. Knowledge of UV dosing required to control L. monocytogenes in brines similar to those used for ready-to-eat meat processing will aid manufacturers in establishing appropriate food safety interventions for these products.