title: Comparing the antimicrobial effectiveness of NaCl and KCl with a view to salt/sodium replacement.
abstract: A study using a small range of pathogenic bacterial species (Aeromonas hydrophila, Enterobacter sakazakii, Shigella flexneri, Yersinia enterocolitica and 3 strains of Staphylococcus aureus) has shown that potassium chloride has an equivalent antimicrobial effect on these organisms when calculated on a molar basis. Combined NaCl and KCl experiments were carried out and data was analysed using a modification to the Lambert and Lambert [Lambert, R.J.W., and Lambert, R., 2003. A model for the efficacy of combined inhibitors. Journal of Applied Microbiology 95, 734-743.] model for combined inhibitors and showed that in combination KCl is a direct 1:1 molar replacement for the antimicrobial effect of common salt. If this is a general finding then, where salt is used to help preserve a product, partial or complete replacement by KCl is possible.
authors.affiliation: Quality and Safety Department, Nestlé Research Centre, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, Lausanne, 1000, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bidlas
authors.forename: Ronald J W
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride