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Growth and formation of toxin by Clostridium botulinum in peeled, inoculated, vacuum‐packed potatoes after a double pasteurization and storage at 25°C
Author(s) -
Lund Barbara M.,
Graham Ann F.,
George Susan M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1988.tb03381.x
Subject(s) - pasteurization , clostridium botulinum , spore , food science , germination , inoculation , vacuum packing , heat resistance , human decontamination , toxin , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , horticulture , materials science , waste management , composite material , engineering
A process that claims to use a double pasteurization to produce vacuum‐packed potatoes for storage at ambient temperature has been evaluated. After the first pasteurization, potatoes are vacuum‐packed and stored at 25°C–35°C for up to 24 h, which is intended to allow germination of bacterial spores, and are then pasteurized again. When potatoes were inoculated with spores of Clostridium botulinum and subjected to this double‐pasteurization process a high proportion of spores remained viable and resulted in growth and formation of toxin within 5–9 d at 25°C. To provide an appropriate reduction in the risk of survival and growth of Cl. botulinum , peeled, vacuum‐packed potatoes for storage at ambient temperature should be given a heat treatment equivalent to an F 0 3 process. If they are not given such a heat treatment they should be stored at a temperature below 4°C.