Survival of Staphylococcus aureus and enterotoxin A in glassy and rubbery states of gelatin |
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| Authors: | KJ Bolton CER Dodd GW Gould WM Waites |
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| Institution: | Department of Applied Biochemistry and Food Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK;Unilever Research, Colworth House, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, UK |
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| Abstract: | About 1% of Staphylococcus aureus cells survived the production of gelatin sheets containing nutrient broth. Those cells which survived showed no evidence of injury. Growth occurred in rubbery state gelatin with a w values of 0.98 and 0.93; viability decreased during storage at a w values of 0.89, 0.62 and 0.36 but there was little loss of viability in gelatin at an a w of 0.25 over 27 d storage at 26°C. Assays for enterotoxin A detected no synthesis of new toxin but no loss in pre-formed toxin. The results suggest that high levels of Staph. aureus and its toxins should be excluded from glassy and rubbery state food products in order to prevent illness. |
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