Affiliation:
1. Wageningen University and Research Centre, Laboratory of Food Microbiology, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, Netherlands
2. Unilever, SEAC, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A combination of multiple hurdles to limit microbial growth is frequently applied in foods to achieve an overall level of protection. Quantification of hurdle technology aims at identifying synergistic or multiplicative effects and is still being developed. The gamma hypothesis states that inhibitory environmental factors aiming at limiting microbial growth rates combine in a multiplicative manner rather than synergistically. Its validity was tested here with respect to the use of pH and various concentrations of undissociated acids, i.e., acetic, lactic, propionic, and formic acids, to control growth of
Bacillus cereus
in brain heart infusion broth. The key growth parameter considered was the maximum specific growth rate, μ
max
, as observed by determination of optical density. A variety of models from the literature describing the effects of various pH values and undissociated acid concentrations on μ
max
were fitted to experimental data sets and compared based on a predefined set of selection criteria, and the best models were selected. The cardinal model developed by Rosso (for pH dependency) and the model developed by Luong (for undissociated acid) were found to provide the best fit and were combined in a gamma model with good predictive performance. The introduction of synergy factors into the models was not able to improve the quality of the prediction. On the contrary, inclusion of synergy factors led to an overestimation of the growth boundary, with the inherent possibility of leading to underestimation of the risk under the conditions tested in this research.
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Ecology,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,Food Science,Biotechnology
Cited by
24 articles.
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