Effect of xylitol on adhesion of Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 to beef carcass surfaces

• Published in: Journal of food protection Vol. 71; no. 2; p. 405
• Main Authors: Sawyer, J E, Greiner, S T, Acuff, G R, Lucia, L M, Cabrera-Diaz, E, Hale, D S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-02-2008
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Adhesion - physiology; Cattle - microbiology; Colony Count, Microbial; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Escherichia coli O157 - drug effects; Escherichia coli O157 - physiology; Food Contamination - analysis; Food Handling - methods; Food Microbiology; Humans; Salmonella typhimurium - drug effects; Salmonella typhimurium - physiology; Sanitation; Sweetening Agents - pharmacology; Xylitol - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0362-028X
• DOI: 10.4315/0362-028X-71.2.405

Effects of 10% xylitol (a five-carbon sugar alcohol) on adhesion of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium to meat surfaces were examined with three approaches. First, beef outside round was inoculated with rifampin-resistant E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium dispersed in xylitol or peptone solution. Samples were rinsed with water or not rinsed in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. No interaction existed between inoculum and rinsing treatments (P > 0.84). Incubation in xylitol had minimal impact on pathogen adhesion (P > 0.76); however, rinsing reduced pathogen cell counts (P < 0.01). Second, meat samples were treated with water, xylitol, or no rinse; inoculated with pathogens dispersed in peptone solution (8.6 log CFU/ml for each pathogen); and then treated with water, xylitol, or no rinse in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement. No interactions were observed (P > 0.50). Postinoculation rinsing reduced pathogen loads (P < 0.01) without difference between water and xylitol (P > 0.64). Third, carcass surfaces inoculated with pathogens (5.5 log CFU/cm2) were treated with 35 degrees C water wash, 2.5% L-lactic acid spray, 10% xylitol spray, lactic acid plus xylitol, or hot water plus xylitol. Lactic acid treatments reduced Salmonella Typhimurium at 0 h (P < 0.01) and 24 h (P < 0.02). Hot water treatments tended to reduce Salmonella Typhimurium at 0 h (P < 0.07). Xylitol did not reduce pathogens (P > 0.62) or increase effectiveness of other treatments. Xylitol does not influence E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium adhesion to meat surfaces.