title: Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Thawed Frozen Foods.
abstract: The growth characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes inoculated onto frozen foods (corn, green peas, crabmeat, and shrimp) and thawed by being stored at 4, 8, 12, and 20°C were investigated. The growth parameters, lag-phase duration (LPD) and exponential growth rate (EGR), were determined by using a two-phase linear growth model as a primary model and a square root model for EGR and a quadratic model for LPD as secondary models, based on the growth data. The EGR model predictions were compared with growth rates obtained from the USDA Pathogen Modeling Program, calculated with similar pH, salt percentage, and NaNO2parameters, at all storage temperatures. The results showed that L. monocytogenes grew well in all food types, with the growth rate increasing with storage temperature. Predicted EGRs for all food types demonstrated the significance of storage temperature and similar growth rates among four food types. The predicted EGRs showed slightly slower rate compared with the values from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pathogen Modeling Program. LPD could not be accurately predicted, possibly because there were not enough sampling points. These data established by using real food samples demonstrated that L. monocytogenes can initiate growth without a prolonged lag phase even at refrigeration temperature (4°C), and the predictive models derived from this study can be useful for developing proper handling guidelines for thawed frozen foods during production and storage.
authors.affiliation: 1 Grocery Manufacturers Association, 1350 I Street N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005.
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.affiliation: 1 Grocery Manufacturers Association, 1350 I Street N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1 Grocery Manufacturers Association, 1350 I Street N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005.
authors.forename: Philip H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: 2 Exponent, Inc., 10808 Topview Lane, Knoxville, Tennessee 37934, USA.
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Whiting
authors.affiliation: 1 Grocery Manufacturers Association, 1350 I Street N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005.
authors.forename: Melinda M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hayman
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005628:Frozen Foods; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Frozen and thawed foods; Growth model; Listeria monocytogenes; Modeling; Ready-to-eat food