Application of protective cultures against Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter jejuni in chicken products packaged under modified atmosphere

Abstract

To control the growth, or reduce the numbers, of food pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter jejuni in chicken products packaged under modified atmosphere (MAP), the effectiveness of protective cultures was evaluated in this study. Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides PCK18 reduced the counts of L. monocytogenes by 1.22 log cfu/g in chicken burgers under MAP after 24 d. Furthermore, a reduction of 1.16 log cfu/g in C. jejuni together with a delay in the growth of lactic acid bacteria was obtained in chicken legs inoculated with Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum PCB133 and packaged under MAP after 9 d. The combination and concentration of gases in the MAP doubled the products’ shelf-life in comparison with air-packaged samples in both experiments. In conclusion, this study has shown the effectiveness of 2 protective culture strains against 2 foodborne pathogens, resulting in safer products with a longer shelf-life.