GROWTH OF LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES IN MEAT JUICE UNDER A MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE AT 4-DEGREES-C WITH OR WITHOUT MEMBERS OF A MICROBIAL ASSOCIATION FROM CHILLED LAMB UNDER A MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE

Listeria monocytogenes together with Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was grown in axenic cultures in meat juice under an atmosphere enriched with carbon dioxide at 4 degrees C. The size of the final population of listeriae was determined by that of the initial inoculum. Growth of L. monocytogenes ceased with glucose depletion. Glucose-6-phosphate was not catabolized by listeriae. In aerobic axenic cultures generation times of L. monocytogenes were shorter and glucose depletion was faster than with a carbon dioxide-enriched atmosphere. Oxidation of L- and D-lactic to acetic acid was probably associated with the subsequent die-off of L. monocytogenes.