Impact of silver nanoparticles active packaging on the behavior of Listeria monocytogenes and other microbial groups during ripening and storage of Canastra cheeses

This study aimed to assess the behavior of endogenous microbiota (total mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria) during the ripening period and of L. monocytogenes and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) during storage at 5, 10, and 20 °C of artisanal Canastra cheeses packed in a silver nanoparticles packaging system using a predictive modeling approach. The tested packaging system did not influence the initial values of pH (around 5.0) or aw (around 0.95) over the storage. Based on the mathematical parameters obtained by the Weibull predictive model, the active packaging system tested did not inactivate L. monocytogenes during the storage period of artisanal Canastra cheeses. Nonetheless, the findings indicate that the polyethylene packaging system containing silver nanoparticles (3000 ppm active based on silicon dioxide and silver) did not affect endogenous bacteria of Canastra cheese during ripening and storage, which opens the opportunity for the use of this material without compromising the role of these bacteria during cheese ripening, contributing to characteristics of the product's identity. •Silver nanoparticle pack (SNP) did not kill L. monocytogenes over cheese storage.•SNP did not affect endogenous bacteria of the cheese during ripening and storage.•SNP can be used to avoid recontamination of cheese thru ripening and further steps.