MICROBIAL STABILIZATION OF INTERMEDIATE MOISTURE FOOD SURFACES III. EFFECTS OF SURFACE PRESERVATIVE CONCENTRATION AND SURFACE pH CONTROL ON MICROBIAL STABILITY OF AN INTERMEDIATE MOISTURE CHEESE ANALOG

Abstract

Localized surface condensations affect microbial stability of intermediate moisture foods (IMF). Two surface modifications previously reported were tested for their ability to improve microbial surface stability; control of surface preservative concentration and reduced surface pH. The effectiveness of a high surface sorbic acid concentration controlled by a zein coating was confirmed in Staphylococcus aureus S-6 surface challenge experiments under extreme testing conditions. Samples with bulk water activity (aw) of 0.88, stored at 30°C under constant 88% relative humidity (RH) remained stable for over 16 days. Uncoated controls were stable for only 2 days. Samples with bulk aw = 0.85, exposed to cycles of 12 h at85% RH and 12h at 88% RH, remained stable for more than 28 days. Uncoated controls were stable for only 3 days. The reduced surface pH approach to microbial stability required the formulation of an IMF model with low total electrolyte concentration which was coated with a deionized mixture of λ-carrageenan and agarose. The effectiveness of the resulting 2.5 fold increase in the surface availability of the active form of sorbic acid as compared to food bulk was confirmed in a challenge test with S. aureus S-6. In a test with samples at aw = 0.88, stored at RH = 88% and 30°C, we found a stability period of about 20 days and it seems possible to increase it.