FOOD. Science. Technology. Quality

Food. SCIENCE. Technology. Quality

Food. Science. TECHNOLOGY. Quality

Food. Science. Technology. QUALITY

Authors

JAROSŁAW KOWALIK, ADRIANA ŁOBACZ, KAMIL ADAMCZEWSKI, ANNA S. TARCZYŃSKA

Title

Applying alternative methods to assess microbiological safety of selected cheeses

Abstract

The increase has been reported in the incidence of foodborne diseases caused by pathogens in foodstuffs. A risk assessment process makes it possible to assess consumer health risks associated with those pathogens in food. Predictive models constitute a tool to quantitatively evaluate the behaviours of microorganisms in food. The objective of the research study was to assess the viability of Bacillus cereus rods in feta and mozzarella types of cheese during storage at a temperature from 3 to 15 ºC with the use of an impedimetric system Bactrac, and to study the results obtained using a method in predictive microbiology. A |DMFit application was utilized and the growth parameters were compared with the data acquired through a predictive ComBase Predictor software (CP). The CP predictions were derived from the data obtained using microbiological media (modified in terms of composition). It was found that, under the prearranged experimental conditions, the feta and mozzarella cheeses were a good culture medium for the Bacillus cereus bacteria to develop. The models, produced on the basis of the experiments and mathematical calculations, of the B. cereus growth during storage differed from the models that were predicted by the CP software. The duration of the lag phase was a growth parameter that determined the bacterial safety of feta and mozzarella types of cheese.

Keywords

predictive microbiology, Bacillus cereus, feta, mozzarella, food safety

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