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D-values and z-values were determined for lean (2.0% fat) and fatty (30.5% fat) ground beef inoculated with approximately 10 7 Escherichia coli 0157:H7 cells per g. Inoculated ground meat was sealed in glass thermal death time tubes which were completely immersed in a circulating water bath and held at prescribed temperatures for predetermined lengths of time. Survival was determined by enumeration on plate count agar (PCA) containing 1% sodium pyruvate and by the 2-h indole test of Lee and McClain (7). D-values for fatty ground beef exceeded those for lean ground beef at the temperatures tested. D-values for lean and fatty ground beef at 125°F were 78.2 and 115.5 min, respectively, as enumerated on PCA plus pyruvate. D-values at 135°F were 4.1 and 5.3 min for lean and fatty beef. At 145°F D-values were determined to be 0.3 and 0.5 min. D-values calculated from 2-h indole test data for lean and fatty ground beef at 125°F were 80.1 and 121.0 min, respectively. D-values at 135°F were 4.0 and 7.4 min for lean and fatty beef and at 145°F a D-value of 0.2 min was calculated for lean beef only, due to insufficient survival of E. coli 0157:H7 in fatty beef at this temperature. The z-values determined for lean beef and fatty beef using PCA were 8.3 and 8.4°F respectively. The z-value for lean beef using the 2-h indole data was 7.8°F. No z-value for fatty beef using 2-h indole data could be determined.

D-Values and z-values for Listeria monocytogenes strain Scott A were determined in lean (2.0% fat) and fatty (30.5%) ground beef inoculated with approximately 10 7 cells/g. Inoculated ground meat was sealed in glass thermal death time tubes which were completely immersed in a circulating water bath and held at prescribed temperatures for predetermined lengths of time. Survival was determined by enumeration on Columbia CNA agar base containing 1% sodium pyruvate with a CNA + 4% horse blood overlay (CBNA) and on Listeria Plating Medium (LPM). D-values for L. monocytogenes in lean and fatty ground beef at 125° were 81.3 and 71.1 min, respectively, as enumerated on CBNA plus pyruvate. D-values at 135°F were 2.6 and 5.8 min in lean and fatty beef. At 145°F, D-values were determined to be 0.6 and 1.2 min. D-values calculated from LPM recovery data from fatty ground beef at 125°F were 56.1 and 34.5 min, respectively. D-values at 135°F were 2.4 and 4.6 min in lean and fatty beef. At 145°F a D-value of 0.5 min was calculated in lean beef and a D-value of 1.1 min was determined in fatty beef. The z-values determined in lean beef and fatty beef using CBNA recovery data were 9.3 and 11.4°F, respectively. The z-value in lean beef using LPM recovery data was 9.8°F. The z-value in fatty beef using LPM recovery data was 13.2°F. A D-value for ground turkey meat at 160°F could not be determined under the conditions of this study. Problems encountered are discussed.

Nitrite plays a major role in the curing of meats. However, the potential problem of nitrosamine formation has been responsible for reduction or elimination of nitrate and nitrite in curing. Reduced amounts of nitrite in curing can provide less protection against botulism, and subsequent investigations have examined solutions to this situation. Residual nitrite has been reduced by limiting the ingoing nitrite and by introducing curing substances, i.e., phosphates, lactobacillus cultures, and phenolic smoke compounds, to lower the pH. Ascorbates, alpha-tocopherol and other blocking agents have been used with nitrite in an attempt to devise a curing system that can provide a safe product with the color and flavor associated with nitrite-cured products while retarding nitrosopyrrolidine formation. This review focuses on the efficacy of various curing methods using nitrites that have the goal of reducing formation of nitrosamines.

A total of 75 compounds, including antioxidants, preservatives, gallic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters, hydroquinones, hydroxyquinolines, phenol derivatives, and related compounds, were screened for their antibotulinal activity in prereduced Thiotone-yeast extract-glucose broth. The most effective inhibitors of Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin production were long-chain esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and gallic acid, antioxidants, and butylphenol derivatives. The antioxidant nordihydroguaiaretic acid at 100 microgram/ml delayed the growth and toxin production for the entire incubation period (7 days). Other antioxidants, such as butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, and tert-butylhydroquinone were also very effective (at 200 to 400 microgram/ml) for the inhibition of C. botulinum growth and toxin production. Toxin was detected, although no detectable growth was found by daily absorbance measurements, in the prereduced medium containing 50 to 400 microgram of 8-hydroxyquinoline, pentylphenol, tert-pentylphenol, 3,5-ditert-butylphenol, 3,5-ditert-butylcatechol, (2-hydroxydiphenyl)methane, or (4-hydroxydiphenyl)methane per ml.