Heat resistance of five spoilage microorganisms in a carbonated broth

Despite their acidic pH, carbonated beverages can be contaminated by spoilage microorganisms. Thermal treatments, before and/or after carbonation, are usually applied to prevent the growth of these microorganisms. However, the impact of CO₂ on the heat resistance of spoilage microorganisms has never been studied. A better understanding of the combined impact of CO₂ and pH on the heat resistance of spoilage microorganisms commonly found in carbonated beverages might allow to optimize thermal treatment.

Five microorganisms were selected for this study: Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris (spores), Aspergillus niger (spores), Byssochlamys fulva (spores), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (vegetative cells), and Zygosaccharomyces parabailii (vegetative cells). A method was developed to assess the impact of heat treatments in carbonated media on microbial resistance.

The heat resistances of the five studied species are coherent with the literature, when data were available. However, neither the dissolved CO₂ concentration (from 0 to 7 g/L), nor the pH (from 2.8 to 4.1) have an impact on the heat resistance of the selected microorganisms, except for As. niger, for which the presence of dissolved CO₂ reduced the heat resistance. This study improved our knowledge about the heat resistance of some spoilage microorganisms in presence of CO₂.