Antibotulinal Effectiveness of Nisin-Nitrite Combinations in Culture Medium and Chicken Frankfurter Emulsions

Abstract

Chicken frankfurter emulsions were challenged with ca. 1000 C. bolulinum spores/g and incubated at 27°C. Botulinal toxin formation was delayed by the addition of nisin or nitrite, either singly or in combination. In the absence of nisin or nitrite, samples became toxic within 1 wk. A 4-wk extension of shelf-life was achieved by addition of 156 ppm nitrite. The addition of 500 ppm nisin allowed only a 1-wk extension of shelf-life. The addition of 100 or 250 ppm nisin together with 120 ppm nitrite was superior to addition of 156 ppm nitrite, whereas the addition of 100 or 250 ppm nisin together with 80 ppm nitrite was somewhat less effective than 156 ppm nitrite. In TPYG broth, an adjuvant effect was observed between nisin and nitrite. Levels of nisin and nitrite that were not effective in TPYG broth when used alone did prevent spore outgrowth when used in combination.