title: Pulsed light inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes through different plastic films.
abstract: The efficacy of decontamination by pulsed light technology through different plastic films has been assayed using Listeria monocytogenes Scott A as target microorganism. A 12-mum polyethylene film, a 48-mum polyamide/polyethylene/vinyl acetate-based copolymer, and a 60-mum polyamide/polyethylene copolymer were tested. Noble agar plates were surface inoculated and wrapped with different films. Unwrapped plates were also analyzed as control. Fluences of 0.175 and 0.35 J/cm(2) were applied. Pulsed light treatment achieved the same degree of inactivation (5-5.5 log cfu/cm(2)) in either wrapped or unwrapped samples. All the polymers showed the same behavior. These results indicate that pulsed light technology could be suitable for decontamination of packaged foods.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrición, Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. manuela@vet.ucm.es
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de la Hoz
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ordóñez
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hierro
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005516:Food Microbiology; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000379:methods*; D005524:Food Technology / Q000379:methods; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008027:Light; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009757:Nylons / Q000737:chemistry; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009757:Nylons; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011108:Polymers; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; C011566:vinyl acetate