A comparison between E-beam irradiation and high pressure treatment for cold-smoked salmon sanitation: microbiological aspects

The effectiveness of electron beam irradiation and high pressure treatment for the sanitation of cold-smoked salmon from two points of view, microbial safety and shelf-life extension, was compared. From the response of L monocytogenes INIA H66a to irradiation, a D value of 0.51 kGy was calculated. For samples stored at 5 degrees C, 1.5 kGy would be sufficient to attain a Food Safety Objective (FSO) of 2 log(10)cfu/g L monocytogenes for a 35-day shelf-life, whereas 3 kGy would be needed in the case of a temperature abuse (5 degrees C + 8 degrees C). Pressurization at 450 MPa for 5 min was considered to be an insufficient treatment, since the FSO of 2 log(10)cfu/g L monocytogenes was only attained for a shelf-life of 21 days at 5 degrees C. However, treatment at 450 MPa for 10 min achieved this FSO for samples held during 35 days at 5 degrees C, or during 21 days under temperature abuse (5 degrees C + 8 degrees C) conditions. Irradiation at 2 kGy kept the microbial population of smoked salmon below 6 log(10)cfu/g after 35 days at 5 degrees C, with negligible or very light changes in its odor. Pressurization at 450 MPa for 5 min also kept the microbial population below 6 log(10)cfu/g after 35 days at 5 degrees C and did not alter odor, but affected negatively the visual aspect of smoked salmon. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.