title: Evaluation of near-infrared pasteurization in controlling Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat sliced ham.
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of near-infrared (NIR) heating to reduce Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) sliced ham compared to conventional convective heating, and the effect of NIR heating on quality was determined by measuring the color and texture change. A cocktail of three pathogens was inoculated on the exposed or protected surfaces of ham slices, followed by NIR or conventional heating at 1.8 kW. NIR heating for 50 s achieved 4.1-, 4.19-, and 3.38-log reductions in surface-inoculated S. Typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes, respectively, whereas convective heating needed 180 s to attain comparable reductions for each pathogen. There were no statistically significant (P > 0.05) differences in reduction between surface- and internally inoculated pathogens at the end of NIR treatment (50 s). However, when treated with conventional convective heating, significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed at the final stages of the treatment (150 and 180 s). Color values and texture parameters of NIR-treated (50-s treatment) ham slices were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from those of nontreated samples. These results suggest that NIR heating can be applied to control internalized pathogens as well as surface-adhering pathogens in RTE sliced meats without affecting product quality.
authors: Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Jae-Won
authors: JW
authors: Ha
authors: Sang-Ryeol
authors: SR
authors: Ryu
authors: Dong-Hyun
authors: DH
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005504:Food Analysis; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000528:radiation effects*; D061352:Pasteurization / Q000379:methods*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000528:radiation effects*