Federica Savini, Federica Giacometti, Sean Alberto Cuomo, Federico Tomasello, Yitagele Terefe Mekonnen, Fulvia Troja, Valentina Indio, Marco Tassinari, Alessandra De Cesare, Andrea Serraino
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Dry aging is a process during which meat is stored within maturation chambers at low temperatures and low relative humidity, resulting in improved tenderness and flavor development. The cuts are exposed to the atmosphere by hanging them or setting them on racks in the maturation chamber without any protective packaging. Animals and humans are usually the major sources of bacterial food contamination in the meat industry, but other routes might be involved. Therefore, procedures to reduce or eliminate pathogens from surfaces are crucial for an effective hazard analysis critical control point program in the food industry and other environments. This study aimed to assess the survival of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus on the inner surface of dry aging chambers. Moreover, we tested the efficacy of alkaline electrolyzed water (REW) for its application within a procedure aimed at reducing foodborne pathogens during meat storage. Environmental conditions inside the dry aging cabinet determine a reduction of circa 3 log CFU/cm2 of the considered microorganisms on the inner surface in 24 hours. Additionally, the nebulization of REW with the smoking system increased the count reduction in 24 hours due to environmental conditions for L. monocytogenes (~1 log CFU/cm2) and for S. aureus (~2 log CFU/cm2). In this context, the use of REW can be justified for routine cleaning procedures of the surfaces, with the added value of being safe to handle, not containing environmental pollutants, and making it unnecessary to rinse surfaces due to its instability.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Food Safety (IJFS) is the official journal of the Italian Association of Veterinary Food Hygienists (AIVI). The Journal addresses veterinary food hygienists, specialists in the food industry and experts offering technical support and advice on food of animal origin. The Journal of Food Safety publishes original research papers concerning food safety and hygiene, animal health, zoonoses and food safety, food safety economics. Reviews, editorials, technical reports, brief notes, conference proceedings, letters to the Editor, book reviews are also welcome. Every article published in the Journal will be peer-reviewed by experts in the field and selected by members of the editorial board. The publication of manuscripts is subject to the approval of the Editor who has knowledge of the field discussed in the manuscript in accordance with the principles of Peer Review; referees will be selected from the Editorial Board or among qualified scientists of the international scientific community. Articles must be written in English and must adhere to the guidelines and details contained in the Instructions to Authors.