Premium
Effect of packaging conditions on the growth of micro‐organisms and the quality characteristics of fresh mushrooms ( Agaricus bisporus ) stored at inadequate temperatures
Author(s) -
GonzálezFandos E.,
Giménez M.,
Olarte C.,
Sanz S.,
Simón A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2000.01159.x
Subject(s) - agaricus bisporus , library science , horticulture , art , biology , food science , computer science , mushroom
Mushrooms were packed in two polymeric films (perforated and non‐perforated PVC) and stored at 17 °C and 25 °C. The carbon dioxide and oxygen content inside the packages, aerobic mesophiles, Pseudomonas spp., faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli , anaerobic spores and major sensory factors (colour, texture, development stage and presence of moulds) were determined. The non‐perforated packages had the highest contents of CO 2 (6–7%), the lowest contents of O 2 (0·013–0·17%) and the most desirable quality parameters (texture, development stage and absence of moulds). Pseudomonas spp. counts were around 1 logarithmic unit lower in mushrooms packaged in non‐perforated film as the O 2 concentrations were lower than in perforated film. The mushrooms themselves were inoculated with an enterotoxin A‐producing strain of Staphylococcus aureus , packaged in overwrapped trays and stored at 17 and 25 °C. Staphylococcus aureus did not grow in the samples stored at 17 °C. Only slight growth was observed in mushrooms packaged with non‐perforated film after 1 day at 25 °C. No enterotoxin was detected in any package. Faecal coliform counts were <2 log cfu g −1 . Escherichia coli was not isolated in any of the samples. At 25 °C, counts of anaerobic spores of around 2 log cfu g −1 were detected in those mushrooms packaged in non‐perforated film.