Biological methods for food preservation Flashcards
what is biopreservation?
is the use of microorganisms, their metabolic products, or both to preserve foods. However, this definition usually excludes fermentation
3 examples of biopreservation
- controlled acidification (where acid is produced by LAB in temperature-abused foods - extended period at 30C)
- use of bacteriocins
- use of bacteriophages
what is controlled acidification?
Organic acids can be added to foods, can be produced via fermentation, or LAB can produce lactic acid in situ and the controlled production of lactic acid can be an important form of biopreservation
what is microGARD?
natural, clean-label product designed to improve shelf-life protection
family of products that can be added to refrigerated food products:
- fermentable carbohydrate (usually lactose or dextrose)
- bacterial culture
=> combined to offer customizable protection for a variety of food products
why is microGARD useful in temperature abused products?
If the food is temperature abused the bacteria will grow and produce lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and bacteriocins to ensure the safety of the product despite the temperature abuse
what are the key benefits of MicroGARD? (3)
- Protect shelf life
- Maintain the organoleptic qualities of food
- Meet consumers’ demand for natural products
how was microGARD conceived?
was a way to use LAB to prevent the growth of C. botulinum in certain foods that could be temperature abused
=> The LAB do not grow under refrigeration conditions and will only grow if foods are temperature abused
what determined the effectiveness of in situ acidification?
depend on the products:
- pH
- buffering capacity
- target spoilage microorganisms
- concentration of fermentable carbohydrates
how are carcinogenic nitrosamines formed?
formed from nitrites in cured meats
what is the Wisconsin process?
When bacon without nitrites was inoculated with C. botulinum and incubated at 28C, 58% turned toxic
When bacon was prepared with less nitrite, 0.7% sucrose, and LAB starter cultures <2% became toxic
This is known as the Wisconsin process and was approved by the FDA for use in 1986
wha are bacteriocins?
antimicrobial peptides of bacterial origins that are lethal to some bacteria, but not the host that produced them. They are produced by virtually all bacterial species. Although, the bacteriocins produced by LAB are of particular interest to the food industry.
how to bacteriocins act to preserve foods?
are able to inhibit pathogens of serious concern, like L. monocytogenes, and are therefore of interest for food safety
bacteriocins are NOT …
antibiotics
bacteriocins can be divided into … major classes
4
what are the class 1 bacteriocins?
Contain unusual amino acids (dehydroalanine, dehydrobutyrine, lanthionine, and methyllanthione) produced by posttranslational modification. Dehydro- amino acids react with cysteine to form thioether lanthionine
bacteriocins containing lanthionine rings are commonly referred to as ,,,
lantibiotics
which class 1 lantibiotic bacteriocin is the best characterized LAB bacteriocin? how is it obtained?
Nisin - GRAS
obtained from the culturing of Lactobacillus lactis on natural substrates and is not chemically synthesized.
how does Nisin work?
used in processed cheese, meats, beverages, etc. during production to extend shelf life by suppressing Gram-positive spoilage and pathogenic bacteria.
- has anti-listeria properties
- sensitizes spores to heat (reduced thermal processing times)
- used in products where botulism is a concern