Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in Skim Milk during Fermentation with Mesophilic Lactic Starter Cultures

Abstract

The ability of Listeria monocytogenes to grow and compete with mesophilic lactic acid bacteria was examined. Autoclaved skim milk was inoculated with 10³ cells of L. monocytogenes (strain V7 or Ohio)/ml, and with 5.0, 1.0, 0.5 or 0.1% of a milk culture of either Streptococcus cremoris or Streptococcus lactis. Inoculated milks were fermented for 15 h at 21 or 30°C, followed by refrigeration at 4°C. Samples were plated on McBride Listeria Agar to enumerate L. monocytogenes and on either APT Agar or plate count agar to enumerate lactic acid bacteria. L. monocytogenes survived in all fermentations, and commonly also grew to some extent. Incubation at 30°C with 5% S. lactis as inoculum appeared to be the most inhibitory combination for strain V7, causing 100% inhibition in growth based on maximum population attained. S. cremoris at the 5.0% and 0.1% inoculum levels, was slightly less inhibitory to L. monocytogenes at 37°C, but it was slightly more inhibitory to L. monocytogenes at the 1.0% inoculum level than was S. lactis. In general, S. lactis reduced the pH of fermented milks more than did S. cremoris. The population of L. monocytogenes began to decrease before 15 h in only one test combination, which was use of a 5.0% inoculum of S. cremoris and 30°C incubation. In most instances, growth of the pathogen appeared to be completely inhibited when the pH dropped below 4.75.