High-oxygen and high-carbon dioxide containing atmospheres inhibit growth of food associated moulds.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the growth of three foodborne fungi and high-oxygen modified atmosphere.


RESULTS
Petri dishes were incubated in a series of connected flasks, which were placed in a climatized room and flushed continuously with the desired gas atmosphere. A combination of 80% oxygen and 20% carbon dioxide resulted in reduced growth of Rhizopus stolonifer, Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium discolor compared with ambient atmosphere conditions. Combining 80% oxygen and 20% carbon dioxide at 10 degrees C arrested growth of B. cinerea for 17 d while an elevated carbon dioxide concentration only inhibited growth up to 11 d. In addition, the peroxidase activity was doubled at 80% oxygen and decreased when 10% carbon dioxide was present.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the potential use of elevated oxygen levels in a modified atmosphere to inhibit food-associated mould growth.
Hoogerwerf
S W
SW
ATO B.V., Department of Preservation Technology and Food Safety, Wageningen, The Netherlands. s.w.hoogerwerf@ato.wag-ur.nl
Kets
E P W
EP
Dijksterhuis
J
J
D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D020171:Botrytis / Q000254:growth & development; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000254:growth & development; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012233:Rhizopus / Q000254:growth & development
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009195:Peroxidase; D010100:Oxygen