INCIDENCE AND HEAT-RESISTANCE OF CLOSTRIDIUM-BOTULINUM TYPE-E SPORES IN MENHADEN SURIMI

Raw menhaden surimi (Brevoortia tyrannus) was examined to determine the incidence of Clostridium botulinum spores. Seven of 565 test portions (1.2%) were positive for type E spores. The thermal death time (TDT) tube method was used to determine the heat resistance of C. botulinum type E spores inoculated into the remaining 558 negative portions. Calculated mean D-values in mm were 8.66 at 73.9-degrees-C, 3.49 at 76.7-degrees-C, 2.15 at 79.4-degrees-C, and 1.22 at 82.2-degrees-C. The z-value of the phantom TDT curve was 9.78C-degrees. Our data indicate previously reported minimal time/temperature thermal processes used to set surimi gel provide an adequate margin of safety with regard to C. botulinum type E.