Thermal inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes during a process simulating temperatures achieved during microwave heating

P. J. Coote, C. D. Holyoak, M. B. Cole*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Conventional heating was used to expose cells of Listeria monocytogenes, either in broth or in situ on chicken skin, to the mean times and temperatures that are achieved during a 28 min period of microwave cooking of a whole chicken. Heating L. monocytogenes by this method in culture broth resulted in a reduction in viable cell numbers by a factor of greater than 106 upon reaching 70°C. Simulated microwave cooking of L. monocytogenes in situ, on chicken skin, resulted in more variability in the numbers of survivors. Heating for the full cook time of 28 min, however, resulted in a mean measured temperature of 85°C and no surviving listerias were detected. This indicated a reduction in viable numbers of greater than 106. To reduce temperature variation, cells were heated on skin in a submerged system in which exposure to 70°C for 2 min resulted in a reduction in viable cell numbers of all strains of listerias tested of between 106 and 108. These results show that when a temperature of 70°C is reached and maintained for at least 2 min throughout a food there is a substantial reduction in the numbers of L. monocytogenes. The survival of this organism during microwave heating when temperatures of over 70°C are reported is probably due to uneven heating by microwave ovens resulting in the presence of cold spots in the product. The heat resistance of L. monocytogenes is comparable with that of many other non‐sporing mesophilic bacteria.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)489-494
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Applied Bacteriology
Volume70
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1991

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