Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Meats Containing Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Lactate, or a Combination of Sodium Lactate and Sodium Diacetate

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Food Science

Volume

73

Issue

5

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Publication Date

6-1-2008

First Page

M239

Last Page

M244

Abstract

This study investigated the use of sodium levulinate to prevent outgrowth of Listeria monocytogenes in refrigerated ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products. Turkey breast roll and bologna were formulated to contain 1%, 2%, or 3% (w/w) sodium levulinate, 2% sodium lactate, a 2% combination of sodium lactate and sodium diacetate (1.875% sodium lactate and 0.125% sodium diacetate), or no antimicrobial (control). Samples of the RTE products were sliced, inoculated with 102 to 103 CFU/cm2 of a 5-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes, vacuum packaged, and stored at refrigeration temperature for 0 to 12 wk. Counts reached 108 CFU/cm2 on control turkey roll product after 8 wk, and over 107 CFU/cm2 on control bologna after 12 wk. Addition of 2% or more sodium levulinate to turkey roll and 1% or more sodium levulinate to bologna completely prevented growth of L. monocytogenes during 12 wk of refrigerated storage. A consumer taste panel with pathogen-free samples found no differences in the overall liking among the preparations of turkey roll or among preparations of bologna. These results show that sodium levulinate is at least as effective at inhibiting outgrowth of L. monocytogenes in RTE meat products as the current industry standards of lactate or lactate and diacetate, and levulinate addition does not alter the overall liking of the RTE meat products.

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