Acid adaptation and temperature effect on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in acidic fruit juice and lactic fermented milk product

Int J Food Microbiol. 2001 Oct 22;70(1-2):189-95. doi: 10.1016/s0168-1605(01)00538-4.

Abstract

In this study, two strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7, (ATCC 43889 and ATCC 43895) were acid adapted at pH 5.0 in tryptic soy broth (TSB) for 4 h. Commercial products of mango juice (pH 3.2), asparagus juice (pH 3.6), Yakult--a diluted milk fermented drink (pH 3.6), and low-fat yoghurt (pH 3.9) were inoculated with acid-adapted or nonadapted cells of E. coli O157:H7. Survival of the inoculated E. coli O157:H7 in these commercial food products during storage at 25 or 7 degrees C was examined. It was found that although survival of the acid-adapted and nonadapted E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 in asparagus juice during storage at 7 degrees C did not show marked difference, in general, acid adaptation and low temperature enhanced the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in both the commercial fruit juices tested. On the contrary, acid adaptation reduced the survival of both the strains of the test organism in Yakult and low-fat yoghurt stored at 7 degrees C. Besides, E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 survived longer than ATCC 43889 in all the products examined, regardless of the storage temperature and acid adaptation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Animals
  • Beverages / microbiology*
  • Dairy Products / microbiology*
  • Escherichia coli O157 / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli O157 / physiology*
  • Fermentation
  • Food Handling
  • Fruit / microbiology
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Milk / microbiology
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors
  • Yogurt / microbiology