Protective effect of casein toward Salmonella typhimurium in acid-milk

Lactic acid is the inhibitory agent in yoghurt responsible for the inhibition of Salmonella typhimurium. Casein, however, may exert a protective effect toward the survival of the salmonella in acid-milk products. Salmonella typhimurium was found to die-off 21.2% more rapidly in 18-h yoghurt-whey than in 18-h yoghurt at 37 degrees C with a pH of 3.85 and 1.42% lactic acid. When casein was added to yoghurt-whey, the die-off rate of the salmonellas was reduced to that found in yoghurt. The rate remained unchanged when 4.8% sodium caseinate was added to the whey. When 0 to 14% casein was added to the acid-whey the die-off rate changed from 9.7 to 24.0 min/log reduction of cells, respectively. There was a direct correlation between the increase in casein concentration and length of survival of the salmonellas. At a pH of 3.85, 4.2 or 4.5, the die-off rate was 6.5, 13.0 or 40 min/log reduction of cells in milk containing 1.42% lactic acid, and was 4.0, 10.0 or 33.3 min/log reduction, respectively, in whey with 1.42% lactic acid. Thus, the protective effect of casein toward Salm. typhimurium increased as the pH increased. This indicated that casein exerts a protective effect on Salm. typhimurium in acid dairy products and the degree of protection depends on the casein concentration, the form of the casein molecule and the pH.