Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes has been implicated in outbreaks of illness involving ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products, prompting researchers to look into intervention technologies to reduce or eliminate this risk. In our study roast beef was inoculated with a 5-strain cocktail of Listeria monocytogenes, vacuum-packaged, and then pasteurized at 205°F for 0, 2, 3 or 4 min in a Stork RMS-Protecon Post-Process Pasteurization System. More bacteria were killed as pasteurization time increased. Initial inoculum level was 5.8 log10 CFU/cm2 of product surface area. Pasteurization for 2 min resulted in 2.5 to 2.7 log10 CFU/cm2 reductions. Similar reductions were seen at 3 min. At 4 min pasteurization, L. monocytogenes decreased in roast beef by approximately 4.5 log10 CFU/cm2; over 99.99% had been killed. The Stork steam based system is effective for reducing the risks of L. monocytogenes in RTE roast beef while providing acceptable quality characteristics.

Keywords: Cattlemen's Day, 2002, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution, no. 02-318-S, Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service), 890, Beef, Roast beef, Post-packaging, Ready-to-eat, Steam-Based pasteurization

How to Cite:

Gill, V., Thippareddi, H., Phebus, R. K., Marsden, J. L. & Kastner, C. L., (2002) “Validation of a steam based post-process pasteurization system for control of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat roast beef”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 1(1), 43-44. doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1728