Preservation of acidified cucumbers with a natural preservative combination of fumaric acid and allyl isothiocyanate that target lactic acid bacteria and yeasts.
Without the addition of preservative compounds cucumbers acidified with 150 mM acetic acid with pH adjusted to 3.5 typically undergo fermentation by lactic acid bacteria. Fumaric acid (20 mM) inhibited growth of Lactobacillus plantarum and the lactic acid bacteria present on fresh cucumbers, but spoilage then occurred due to growth of fermentative yeasts, which produced ethanol in the cucumbers. Allyl isothiocyanate (2 mM) prevented growth of Zygosaccharomyces globiformis, which has been responsible for commercial pickle spoilage, as well as the yeasts that were present on fresh cucumbers. However, allyl isothiocyanate did not prevent growth of Lactobacillus plantarum. When these compounds were added in combination to acidified cucumbers, the cucumbers were successfully preserved as indicated by the fact that neither yeasts or lactic acid bacteria increased in numbers nor were lactic acid or ethanol produced by microorganisms when cucumbers were stored at 30 degrees C for at least 2 mo. This combination of 2 naturally occurring preservative compounds may serve as an alternative approach to the use of sodium benzoate or sodium metabisulfite for preservation of acidified vegetables without a thermal process.
Pérez-Díaz
I M
IM
USDA-ARS, SAA Food Science Research Unit, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27695-7624, USA. Ilenys.Pérez-Díaz@ars.usda.gov
McFeeters
R F
RF
D019342:Acetic Acid; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018553:Cucumis sativus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005650:Fumarates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006601:Hexoses / Q000032:analysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D056546:Lactobacillales / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012492:Salts; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020068:Zygosaccharomyces / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005520:Food Preservatives; D005650:Fumarates; D006601:Hexoses; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D012492:Salts; C017082:brine; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000431:Ethanol; C032005:fumaric acid; C004471:allyl isothiocyanate; D019342:Acetic Acid