title: Quantifying the performance of Pediococcus sp. (NRRL B-2354: Enterococcus faecium) as a nonpathogenic surrogate for Salmonella Enteritidis PT30 during moist-air convection heating of almonds.
abstract: Pediococcus sp. NRRL B-2354 was investigated as a potential nonpathogenic surrogate for Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis phage type 30 (SE PT30) on the surface of almonds subjected to moist-air heating. Both microorganisms were subjected to various time, temperature, and humidity regimens on almonds processed in a computer-controlled, laboratory-scale, moist-air convection oven. Overall, the mean log reductions for Pediococcus sp. were 0.6 log and 1.4 log lower than those for SE PT30 (P < 0.05) at predicted reductions of 3 and 5 log, respectively. Also, the D(ref)-values for Pediococcus sp., calculated using a modified inactivation model (accounting for moisture) for SE PT30 on the surface of almonds subjected to moist-air heating (30 to 90% moisture by volume) were ~30% larger than those for SE PT30. Based on these findings, Pediococcus sp. NRRL B-2354 can be used as a conservative surrogate for SE PT30 during moist-air heating, and this organism is also likely to be an acceptable surrogate for steam heating.
authors.affiliation: Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Sanghyup
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Bradley P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Elliot T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Ryser
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D018481:Convection; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010376:Pediococcus / Q000254:growth & development*; D027861:Prunus / Q000382:microbiology*; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000254:growth & development*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014867:Water