|
Food Protection Trends
Abstracts - October 2006
Storage Temperatures
Necessary to Maintain
Cheese Safety
Preharvest Control of Yeasts
and Molds in Commodities
Storage Temperatures
Necessary to Maintain
Cheese Safety
Jay Russell Bishop and Marianne Smukowski
Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research, University of Wisconsin, 1605 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1565, USA
SUMMARY
Available information on bacterial pathogen growth, stasis, and
death in cheeses was reviewed and evaluated to determine storage
temperatures necessary to maintain product safety. In view of the
variety and large volume of cheeses consumed throughout the world,
the incidence of foodborne outbreaks associated with cheeses is
extremely low. Research revealed that the inherent characteristics of
most cheeses create a hostile environment for bacterial pathogens,
especially at elevated ripening and storage temperatures. Therefore,
it is recommended that the following cheeses, manufactured in the
United States with pasteurized or heat treated (> 63°C for >16
seconds) milk, should be exempt from refrigeration requirements
during ripening, storage, shipping, and display: Asiago (medium and
old), Cheddar, Colby, Feta, Monterey Jack, Muenster, Parmesan,
Pasteurized process, Provolone, Romano, and Swiss/Emmentaler. It
must be stressed that the manufacture of these cheeses must be
done under the proper conditions of Good Hygiene Practices, Good
Manufacturing Practices, and HACCP principles, and according to CFR
requirements. In addition, the natural cheeses must include active
cultures, and the storage and display temperatures must not exceed
30°C.
Preharvest Control of Yeasts
and Molds in Commodities
M. E. Tumbleson, Gavin L. Meerdink, Vijay Singh, Peter D. Constable, and Wanda M. Haschek
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA
SUMMARY
Control of yeasts and molds in commodities involves a
multifactorial approach for defining multiple variables. Preharvest scope
include varietial (maturity, date, GMO) selection, tillage (time, depth),
planting (density, spacing), fertilization (type, amount, timing), irrigation,
pesticides, procedures from stalk to storage bin (combines, grain carts,
semitrailers, augers and dryers) and transfer devices from initial storage
to processing units. Other considerations include operator acuity,
organic growing methodologies, growing seasons, heat days, critical
rainfalls, late freezes, early frosts, pulse field, electron beam irradiation
and broken corn and foreign material (BCFM). Collection of usable
data for future modeling that integrates technological advancements
with practical applications, necessitates initial multidisciplinary input,
continued attention to details and realistic conclusions which can be
utilized by personnel throughout the system. A primary consideration
for interventions will be economic return for directly involved
individuals as well as personal and portfolio investors and
representatives from loaning agencies. While milk is a biomaterial
that evolved with the intent to nourish growing mammals, most plant
biomaterials evolved to assist in avoidance of predators. Cultivating
cereal grains under conditions of environmental duress results in
elevated levels of polyphenols. Grain compositional characteristics
resulting from sustainable (status quo) versus progressive agricultural
practices must be reviewed in the context of food safety. Establishing
programs to support research and transfer new knowledge must be
integral to designing overall management systems. For successful
implementation, program recommendations must provide relevant
information. Development of regulatory procedures must be based
on both scientific and practical considerations to result in relevant
impacts.
|
