EFFECTS OF CETYLPYRIDINIUM CHLORIDE, LACTIC ACID AND SODIUM BENZOATE ON POPULATIONS OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ON BEEF

ABSTRACT The effects of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), lactic acid (LA) and sodium benzoate (SB) on the Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus populations on beef were evaluated. Samples of longissimus dorsi beef muscle inoculated with L. monocytogenes and S. aureus were dipped into 0.5, 2.0 and 0.3% of CPC, LA and SB, respectively, or an equal mix of any two solutions for 15 s at 35C ± 1. CPC demonstrated 1.93 and 2.15 log reductions of L. monocytogenes and S. aureus, respectively, on the fifth day of refrigerated storage, whereas LA reduced L. monocytogenes and S. aureus by 1.72 and 0.99 log, respectively. Results indicated that the single intervention of CPC and LA solutions were more effective than mixed solutions of these decontaminants to reduce the pathogens of concern on beef.