Behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes under combined chilling processes

The behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes under chilling processes was investigated. Growth kinetics were measured at 7 degrees C in TSBYE culture medium as a function of pH (7.2 and 6.2), pre-incubation temperatures (4 or 7 degrees C), cooling (0.05 or 0.1 degree C min-1) and freezing (0 and -5 degrees C) treatments. Growth curves generated were fitted by Gompertz and Baranyi functions. The Baranyi function gave better parameter estimation values than the Gompertz equation which over-estimated the specific growth rate values. Listeria monocytogenes grew at 7 degrees C without a lag phase, except when the sub-culture was performed at 37 degrees C, whereas the specific growth rate was affected by the chilling processes. In fact, L. monocytogenes grew slightly faster at 7 degrees C when a 4 degrees C pre-incubation treatment was applied than with a 7 degrees C pre-incubation treatment. These results suggest that to mimic the processes of contamination in industry, predictive microbiology studies with L. monocytogenes should be performed with organisms cultured at low temperatures.