Listeria monocytogenes F5069 Thermal Death Times in Liquid Whole Egg ^{1, 2}

Thermal death times (F-values) for L. monocytogenes F5069 inoculated into sterile liquid whole egg were determined between 62 and 73°C by a submerged capillary tube procedure. The initial population was 5 × 10⁶ to 2 × 10⁷ CFU/tube (0.05 ml). High populations intentionally were selected to build in a safety factor. At each temperature, F-values were determined to be the shortest heating time which did not permit recovery of L. monocytogenes from six or more replicate tubes. L. monocytogenes were recovered by incubating the entire contents of the capillary tube in brain heart infusion broth at 25°C for 2 weeks. At 62°C, F = 16 min and at 69°C, F = 1.6 min. The z_F-value was 7.1°C. Minimal pasteurization of egg would not result in product free from L. monocytogenes if initial populations were large. Ultrapasteurization processes may be designed to produce product free from L. monocytogenes and appropriate for prolonged refrigeration.