title: Microbial growth and the effects of mild acidification and preservatives in refrigerated sweet potato puree.
abstract: Refrigerated sweet potato puree is a convenient form of sweet potato that can be used as an ingredient in formulated foods. The microbiology of refrigerated sweet potato puree during storage for up to 5 weeks was evaluated. Because the puree was made by comminuting steam-cooked sweet potatoes before refrigeration, no naturally occurring vegetative bacterial cells were detected during a 4-week period of refrigerated storage at 4 degrees C. However, if postprocessing microbial contamination of the puree were to occur, contaminating microorganisms such as Listeria monocytogenes could grow during refrigerated storage. The effects of acidification or the addition of potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate on a population of L. monocytogenes inoculated into refrigerated (4 degrees C) sweet potato puree were determined. Inoculation of the refrigerated puree with L. monocytogenes at 10(6) CFU/ml resulted in a 3-log increase after 3 weeks storage of nonsupplemented puree. Supplementation of the sweet potato puree with 0.06% (wt/vol) sorbic acid or benzoic acid plus mild acidification of the sweet potato puree with citric acid to pH 4.2 prevented growth of L. monocytogenes during storage at 4 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7624, USA. ilenys.perez-diaz@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Ilenys M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Pérez-Díaz
authors.forename: Van-Den
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.forename: Ashlee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.forename: Roger F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: McFeeters
mesh_terms: D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D027723:Ipomoea batatas / Q000382:microbiology*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D012034:Refrigeration; D020160:Sodium Benzoate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005520:Food Preservatives; D020160:Sodium Benzoate; D013011:Sorbic Acid