Cel The aim is to determine the effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the initial microflora of packed fish and the growth of food spoilage bacteria and to identify MAP packaging conditions that lead to the selection of microbial associations and physiochemical changes inhibiting the growth and/or toxin production of foodborne pathogens to help ensure consumer safety. As the spoilage flora develops, changes in the physicochemical properties of fish will be quantified. Moreover, the influence of MA and the bacteria involved will be determined in the spoilage association, particularly lactic acid bacteria, on the growth of the food poisoning bacteria (eg Salmonella, Yersinia, Staph, aureus). The physicochemical characteristics will be also analysed during storage. The changes that occur during storage will be used to help develop sensors for monitoring safety and freshness. The project examined the influence of modified atmosphere packing (MAP) and vacuum packing (VP) on the growth of food poisoning organisms and identified chemical changes that could be used to monitor safety and freshness of fish and fish products. The development and use of antibiotic resistant strains of several foodborne pathogens has proved a successful technique for their enumeration from stored foods, while a dip inoculation procedure developed has been found to be satisfactory, giving very reproducible results. In general, modified atmospheres have beneficial effects with respect to extension of the shelf life of fish and fish products. In particular, for the fish and fish products examined, growth of the pathogen (Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella species) was never greater in any of the MAPs than in the appropriate control and was frequently reduced. Inoculation with the pathogens was found not to affect the developing microflora (eg lactic acid bacteria). The findings of this programme do not support fears concerning growth in fish and fish products packed in MAP, but it must be stressed that this programme has not included studies of Clostridium botulinum. Data has been collected concerning the physicochemical changes that occur in fish, during storage, when packed in MAP, and the relationship of these changes to the developing microflora. Changes in microbial metabolites were found to be influenced by packaging conditions. As far as physicochemical indicators are concerned, acetate and lactate content can be related to the spoilage or the age of fish. The appearance of hydrogen sulphide in the headspace of MA packs does not appear to offer a consistent indicator of in pack quality. Changes in the gas composition, which may relate directly to microbial growth (evolution of hydrogen and carbon dioxide), may provide the means for the development of a noninvasive indicator of packed product quality.The project is divided into 2 phases. Phase 1 will determine the most adequate MA packaging system that ensures the safety and the quality of fish and fish products, when these are stored at temperatures between 2 and 10 C. At this stage the contribution of the microflora will be established and the analysis of physicochemical characteristics will be examined in parallel with the microbiological characteristics. In phase 2, emphasis will be given to the correlation of physicochemical changes with some pathogens and spoilage organisms. To this end, a number of compounds will be examined (such as glucose, lipidis, proteins, volatile fatty acids) with classical and sophisticated instruments such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electrophoresis, sensors (hydrogen and ammonia), gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and, possibly, microbiological instruments (eg impedance microbiology). Dziedzina nauki natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryorganic acidsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipidsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistanceantibiotic resistance Program(-y) FP2-FAR - Community research and coordination programmes (EEC) in the fisheries sector, 1988-1992 Temat(-y) Data not available Zaproszenie do składania wniosków Data not available System finansowania Data not available Koordynator National Agricultural Research Foundation (NARF) Wkład UE Brak danych Adres S. Venizelou 1 14123 Lycovrisi, Athens Grecja Zobacz na mapie Koszt całkowity Brak danych
