Survival and Growth Characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium on Stainless Steel and Buna-N Rubber.

Microorganisms harbored on food-contact surfaces are part of a complex ecosystem. The interactions of temperature, relative humidity (RH), soil and surface on the survival of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium were studied. Survival and growth were monitored at 25°C and 6°C and 32.5% RH and 75.5% RH. Survival in phosphate-buffered saline and dilute pasteurized whole milk on both stainless steel and buna-n was highest at 6°C and 75.5% RH. Both organisms were recoverable on the two surfaces after 10 days storage at 6°C and 75.5% RH. Survival of L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium at 25°C and 75.5% RH was increased in dilute pasteurized whole milk on stainless steel, but not on buna-n. Organisms grew in pasteurized whole milk on stainless steel at 25°C and 75.5% RH, but failed to grow on buna-n. At 25°C and 75.5% RH, S. typhimurium was not recoverable on buna-n after 10 days in whole milk; however, L. monocytogenes remained close to initial levels. The survival and growth of both organisms in raw milk soil was similar to that in pasteurized whole milk soil. Buna-n was not bacteriostatic towards all organisms, as the total viable count in raw milk increased by more than a factor of 10 after 1 day storage at 25°C and 75.5% RH. Unlike other soils tested, survival of S. typhimurium at in conditions and L. monocytogenes at 25°C and both RHs in whey was higher on buna-n than on stainless steel. At 6°C and both RHs, L. monocytogenes levels remained constant on both surfaces in whey. The bacteriostatic effect of buna-n was not affected significantly by exposure to 20 cycles of a simulated clean-in-place (CIP) process.

Attachment of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium to Stainless Steel and Buna-N in the Presence of Milk and Individual Milk Components.

The effects of milk and individual milk components on the attachment of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium to two commonly used materials in the dairy industry were studied. Attachment of both organisms to stainless steel and Buna-N was significantly inhibited by the presence of skim, 2%, whole, or chocolate 2% milk compared to the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control. The addition of individual milk components, casein, α-lactalbumin, and ß-lactoglobulin to the attachment menstruum significantly reduced attachment. Pretreating surfaces with milk and milk components for 1 h prior to attachment in PBS gave similar results. The presence of lactose did not affect attachment of either organism; however, attachment of S. typhimurium was significantly decreased on pretreated Buna-N. Cells of either organism pretreated with skim milk or ß-lactoglobulin prior to attachment in PBS showed significantly less attachment than untreated cells. Pretreating S. typhimurium cells with casein had no effect on attachment to stainless steel. Pretreatment of S. typhimurium with lactose increased attachment to both surfaces while pretreatment had no effect on L. monocytogenes . Attachment of both organisms was significantly reduced in diluted whole milk. Both organisms attached significantly less to surfaces soiled with one or more layers of whole milk.