TY - JOUR
T1 - Residential Refrigerator Performance Based on Microbial Indicators of Ground Beef Preservation Assessed Using Predictive Microbiology Tools
AU - de la Cruz Quiroz, Reynaldo
AU - Rodriguez-Martinez, Veronica
AU - Velazquez, Gonzalo
AU - Perez, Gabriel M.
AU - Fagotti, Fabian
AU - Welti-Chanes, Jorge
AU - Torres, J. Antonio
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - The aim of this study was to develop a refrigerator performance assessment procedure based on the temperature (2 × 106 values) of ground beef stored in its bottom drawer set to Fresh Meat (0 °C). Effects analyzed were ambient temperature (LT, 21.1 °C/HT, 32.2 °C), food load (LL, 22.5 kg/HL, 39.0 kg), door openings, and refrigerator compressor mode (SS, single speed/VS, variable speed). Published predictive microbiology models for exponential growth and ground beef temperature (48-h tests) were used to define absolute (API) and relative preservation indicators (RPI). For VS mode, API (log CFU/g) ranged from 1.7 (LT/LL) to 3.1 (HT/HL) for Listeria monocytogenes and 1.6 to 2.5 for Pseudomonas putida. Ground beef temperature reductions with minimum freezing risk yielded significantly lower API values indicating the need for refrigerator settings below 5 °C. Probabilistic analysis considering the model and temperature measurement variability confirmed this need. At 2 °C as recommended for ground beef storage, API2°C would be 1.1 (L. monocytogenes) and 1.4 logCFU/g (P. putida). RPI defined as the ratio of experimental API over API2°C yielded values > 1 confirming that a refrigerator control logic must consider preservation in addition to energy use compliance. In this study, SS outperformed energy-efficient VS compressors; however, compressor optimization considering energy use and food preservation would favor the latter. In conclusion, API and RPI values were effective tools to assess the microbial food preservation performance of a refrigerator and its use could be extended to analyze any segment of the refrigerated food distribution chain. Transforming time-temperature data into microbial performance indicators is practical and cost-effective.
AB - The aim of this study was to develop a refrigerator performance assessment procedure based on the temperature (2 × 106 values) of ground beef stored in its bottom drawer set to Fresh Meat (0 °C). Effects analyzed were ambient temperature (LT, 21.1 °C/HT, 32.2 °C), food load (LL, 22.5 kg/HL, 39.0 kg), door openings, and refrigerator compressor mode (SS, single speed/VS, variable speed). Published predictive microbiology models for exponential growth and ground beef temperature (48-h tests) were used to define absolute (API) and relative preservation indicators (RPI). For VS mode, API (log CFU/g) ranged from 1.7 (LT/LL) to 3.1 (HT/HL) for Listeria monocytogenes and 1.6 to 2.5 for Pseudomonas putida. Ground beef temperature reductions with minimum freezing risk yielded significantly lower API values indicating the need for refrigerator settings below 5 °C. Probabilistic analysis considering the model and temperature measurement variability confirmed this need. At 2 °C as recommended for ground beef storage, API2°C would be 1.1 (L. monocytogenes) and 1.4 logCFU/g (P. putida). RPI defined as the ratio of experimental API over API2°C yielded values > 1 confirming that a refrigerator control logic must consider preservation in addition to energy use compliance. In this study, SS outperformed energy-efficient VS compressors; however, compressor optimization considering energy use and food preservation would favor the latter. In conclusion, API and RPI values were effective tools to assess the microbial food preservation performance of a refrigerator and its use could be extended to analyze any segment of the refrigerated food distribution chain. Transforming time-temperature data into microbial performance indicators is practical and cost-effective.
KW - Absolute preservation indicator
KW - Microbial safety
KW - Microbial spoilage
KW - Refrigerated foods
KW - Refrigerator preservation performance
KW - Relative preservation indicator
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096010739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11947-020-02551-5
DO - 10.1007/s11947-020-02551-5
M3 - Artículo
AN - SCOPUS:85096010739
SN - 1935-5130
VL - 13
SP - 2172
EP - 2185
JO - Food and Bioprocess Technology
JF - Food and Bioprocess Technology
IS - 12
ER -