FOOD. Science. Technology. Quality

Food. SCIENCE. Technology. Quality

Food. Science. TECHNOLOGY. Quality

Food. Science. Technology. QUALITY

Authors

MONIKA KORDOWSKA-WIATER, BEATA ŁUKASIEWICZ

Title

Impact of packaging methods on the microbiological quality of Pâtés

Abstract

The first objective of this study was to characterize microorganisms present in 20 selected pâté types manufactured of red and poultry meat, and packed in different packaging, and the second was an effort to determine the impact of packaging methods on the microbiological quality of products under analysis. The analyses were performed according to the rules as pointed out in the Polish Specifications or in the Polish standard PN-ISO. The analyses performed included the determination of total counts of the following species: mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and moulds, coliforms and enterococci, as well as the occurrence detection of proteolytic bacteria, spore-forming anaerobes, and pathogens such as Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella sp. The counts of microorganisms were the lowest in pâtés packed in tins. No pathogens were detected in products packed in jars, tins, and PE/PA foil. All pâtés were free from coliforms, but enterococci were present in 35% of all the samples. Vacuum packages in PE/PA foil stimulated the growth of lactic acid bacteria. All the pâtés examined were safe for consumers to use and showed no health risk.

Keywords

pâté, microbiological quality, health safety, package

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