The heat resistance of various yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Torulaspora delbrueckii, and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii), molds (Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium roquefortii, and Aspergillus niger), and lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus plantarum) obtained from spoiled acid or acidified food products was determined in 0.1 M citrate buffer at pH values of 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0. S. cerevisiae was the most heat resistant of the microorganisms in citrate buffer, and its heat resistance was further evaluated in apple, grapefruit, calcium-fortified apple, and tomato juices as well as in a juice base with high fructose corn syrup. Decimal reduction times (D-values) and changes in temperature required to change the D-value (z-values) for S. cerevisiae were higher in the juices than in citrate buffer at all pH values tested. The D57 degrees C(135 degrees F)-values varied from 9.4 min in the juice product with pH 2.8 to 32 min in a calcium-added apple juice with pH 3.9. The S. cerevisiae strain used in this study can be used in thermal-death-time experiments in acidic products to calculate process conditions and in challenge tests to validate the calculated temperatures and hold times during processing.

Sucrose laurates, sucrose palmitate, sucrose stearates, and monolaurin (Lauricidin) were evaluated for inhibitory effects against spores of Bacillus sp., Clostridium sporogenes PA3679, and Alicyclobacillus sp. in a model agar system. The combined treatment of sucrose laurate, high hydrostatic pressure, and mild heat was evaluated on spores of Bacillus and Alicyclobacillus in foods. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the sucrose esters were higher than that of Lauricidin for all spores tested in the model agar system, but Lauricidin was not the most readily suspended in the test media. The sucrose laurates and sucrose palmitate were more effective and more readily suspended than the sucrose stearates. A combined treatment of sucrose laurate (<1.0%), 392 megaPascals (MPa) at 45 degrees C for 10 to 15 min provided 3- to 5.5-log10 CFU/ml reductions from initial populations of 10(6) CFU/ml for Bacillus subtilis 168 in milk, Bacillus cereus 14579 in beef, Bacillus coagulans 7050 in tomato juice (pH 4.5), Alicyclobacillus sp. N1089 in tomato juice (pH 4.5), and Alicyclobacillus sp. N1098 in apple juice. The most notable change in the appearance of the products was temporary foaming during mixing of the sucrose laurate in the foods. The effect of sucrose laurate appeared to be inhibitory rather than lethal to the spores. The inhibitory effects observed on Bacillus and Alicyclobacillus spores by the combined treatment of pressure, mild heat, and sucrose laurate appear promising for food applications where alternatives to high heat processing are desired.

Whole-wheat muffins and batter were prepared with 0-5% flaxseed meal or by direct substitution of vegetable oil with flaxseed oil, and were evaluated for physicochemical properties. The storage properties of muffins were evaluated over 5 days at 0.44 relative vapor pressure (RVP) and ambient temperature. Batter viscosity increased from 2730 ± 530 to 12,775 ± 4425 cps with increasing flaxseed meal content while other properties were unaffected. When flaxseed meal was added at 5%, the maximum force for compression of freshly baked muffins increased from 369.6 ± 3.0 to 594.6 ± 10.2 g while the internal elasticity decreased from 60.2 ± 0.5 to 55.4 ± 1.6. Freshly baked muffins with flaxseed meal had lower color scores, L , and a values than control muffins. The storage stability of muffins was unaffected by the addition of flaxseed meal. Flaxseed meal or oil can be used in muffins to enhance the nutritional value without detrimentally changing the freshness or storage properties.

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A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection system, BAX, was evaluated for its sensitivity in detecting Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria sp., and Listeria monocytogenes on fresh produce. Fifteen different types of produce (alfalfa sprouts, green peppers, parsley, white cabbage, radishes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, leaf lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, cantaloupe, mango, apples, and oranges) were inoculated, in separate studies, with Salmonella Enteritidis, E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes down to the predicted level of 1 CFU per 25-g sample. Detection by BAX was compared to recovery of the inoculated bacteria by culture methods according to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM). BAX was essentially as sensitive as the culture-based method in detecting Salmonella Enteritidis and L. monocytogenes and more sensitive than the culture-based method for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 on green pepper, carrot, radish, and sprout samples. Detection of the pathogenic bacteria in samples spiked with a predicted number of less than 10 CFU was possible for most produce samples, but both methods failed to detect L. monocytogenes on carrot samples and one of two mushroom and onion samples spiked with less than 100 CFU. Both BAX and the culture method were also unable to consistently recover low numbers of E. coli O157:H7 from alfalfa sprouts. The PCR method allowed detection of Salmonella Enteritidis, E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes at least 2 days earlier than the conventional culture methods.