title: Effects of pH and agitation on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A in brain heart infusion broth containing combined potassium lactate and sodium diacetate during storage at 4 or 10 degrees C.
abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of pH on the growth kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A in static and agitated broths stored at 4 and 10 degrees C with and without a combination of 1.85% potassium lactate (PL) and 0.13% sodium diacetate (SDA) (3.3% of a 60% commercial solution, PURASAL P Opti. Form 4). The pH of brain heart infusion broth without (control) or with 1.85% PL + 0.13% SDA was adjusted to 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.5. L. monocytogenes Scott A was inoculated (at 10(2) CFU/ml) into pH-adjusted broth, which was stored at 4 or 10 degrees C with or without agitation. At pH 5.5, a listeriostatic effect was observed for the broth containing 1.85% PL + 0.13% SDA at 4 and 10 degrees C both with and without agitation. At pH 6.0, 1.85% PL + 0.13% SDA fully controlled the growth of L. monocytogenes Scott A in static broth at 4 degrees C for up to 20 days and significantly slowed the growth of the pathogen in agitated broth. At 10 degrees C, the growth of L. monocytogenes Scott A was significantly reduced by 1.85% PL + 0.13% SDA in agitated and unagitated broths. At pH 6.5, 1.85% PL + 0.13% SDA significantly suppressed the growth of L. monocytogenes Scott A at both 4 degrees C (P < 0.001) and 10 degrees C (P < 0.01). At pH 7.5, 1.85% PL + 0.13% SDA had a limited effect on the growth of L. monocytogenes Scott A in broth stored at 4 and 10 degrees C. At 4 degrees C, agitation decreased the lag time and increased the growth rate of L. monocytogenes Scott A at all tested pHs. A similar but less obvious trend was observed for broths stored at 10 degrees C. These results indicate that lactate-diacetate combinations effectively acted with low pH and temperature to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes Scott A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Ecology, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princes Anne, Maryland 21853, USA. ksyoon@mail.umes.edu
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Burnette
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Whiting
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D019346:Sodium Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005520:Food Preservatives; D007773:Lactates; D019346:Sodium Acetate