The inactivation of microorganisms for preservation of foodstuffs is influenced by many endo- and exogenous factors. The protective effects of fat and oil are well known. The microorganisms must enter the oil phase, whereby the hydrophobicity of the microbial surface plays a major part. The hydrophobicity of the microbial surface was determined by contact angle measurement and the MATH-test (microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons test) and compared with the results of the dispersion experiments in oil-in-water-emulsions. A significant relation between the hydrophobicity and the distribution of microorganisms in emulsions could not be established. For a better understanding of the protective effect of lipids, the distribution of different microorganisms in oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions was first tested without addition of emulsifying agents at a water to oil ratio of 1:1. The conidiae of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium glabrum and the spores of Bacillus subtilis were mainly found in the oil phase. The spores of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris and Bacillus stearothermophilus as well as the cells of Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, Lactococcus lactis, Pichia anomala and Saccharomyces cerevisiae dominated the water phase. Similar results were determined in oil-in-water as well as in water-in-oil-emulsions. In the water-in-oil emulsions the migration of microbes into the oil appeared, however slightly reduced. For some kinds of microorganisms further factors influencing the distribution in oil-in-water emulsions were tested. Addition of the emulsifying agent sodiumlaurylsulfate led only to a minor change in the distribution ratio. The growth phase (stationary or log-phase) and the type of oil (sunflower, rapeseed, olive) influenced only slightly the distribution of the microorganisms between the phases. By increasing the concentration of electrolytes in the water phase the shift of Escherichia coli into the oil phase was significantly intensified. The second part of the thesis presents the effects of oil on the storage and preservation of foodstuffs shown by the example of mayonnaise. The viability of Listeria innocua in sunflower oil was similar to those in phosphate buffer. The survival rate of Lactococcus lactis in oil was the same as in mayonnaise, but appeared lower if compared with phosphate buffer. Within 35 days (time of experiment) no reduction in the cell counts of Aspergillus niger could be detected, both in mayonnaise and sunflower oil. The inactivation of Listeria innocua and Lactococcus lactis in water solutions, mayonnaise and sunflower oil by heat and by high pressure treatments showed the following results: Inactivation in mayonnaise due to heat was significantly slower than in phosphate buffer but faster than in sunflower oil. At higher temperatures (about 60°C) the rate of destruction of the microorganisms stagnated at distinct levels in case of mayonnaise. A slight difference in the destruction of Listeria innocua could be detected dependent on the type of oil (sunflower, rapeseed, olive). The addition of oleic acid, capric acid and monolaurin, which act as natural preservation agents, up to concentrations of 2 % did not enhance on the thermal reduction of microorganisms. In contrast, oleic acid was even found to exert some protective effect. Similar to the results shown above, high pressure treatment of microorganisms was more effective in phosphate buffer than in mayonnaise. In sunflower oil only tiny destructive effects could be noticed at 500 MPa. The cell counts of both bacteria species were reduced by half a log cycle within 15 min in sunflower oil. A further increase in pressure up to 800 MPa in sunflower oil did not result in improved lowering of cell counts as a result of pressure build-up and releave without holding time. The high pressure treatment in mayonnaise resulted in tailing inactivation curves for both microorganisms. Microbial counts of Listeria innocua were reduced by 2 log cycles after 15 min of pressure treatment at 500 MPa and the counts of Lactococcus lactis by more than 6 log cycles after 5 min respectively. Addition of 0,2 % sodium benzoate to mayonnaise did not stimulate high pressure inactivation of Listeria innocua. Moreover the viability of Listeria innocua in mayonnaise after high pressure treatment survival at 500 MPa was examined: The cells were not obstructed by constituents of the mayonnaise during a following storage for 24 h at 7°C. The emulsion structure of mayonnaise was changed after both thermal and high pressure treatment, resulting in oil droplet diameter increase. It may be concluded that microbial stabilisation of mayonnaises by thermal treatment is more effective than high pressure treatment. Further tests including other microorganisms and longer pressure holding times would be necessary.
«
The inactivation of microorganisms for preservation of foodstuffs is influenced by many endo- and exogenous factors. The protective effects of fat and oil are well known. The microorganisms must enter the oil phase, whereby the hydrophobicity of the microbial surface plays a major part. The hydrophobicity of the microbial surface was determined by contact angle measurement and the MATH-test (microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons test) and compared with the results of the dispersion experiments in o...
»