Search

The present study evaluated the safety, nutritional and sensory properties of fish pâtés made from smoked tench ( Tinca tinca ) pulp. Two formulations of tench pâté were produced, one of which included olive oil and the other contained mascarpone cheese. The prepared pâté jars were thermally treated according to the method applied in the canning industry. The inactivation of Clostridium botulinum during thermal treatment was determined through a challenge test study, demonstrating the complete depletion of targeted bacteria. Tench pâtés showed high nutritional properties, especially the formulation with olive oil, which was characterised by lower contents of cholesterol and saturated fatty acids and a high level of monounsaturated fatty acids. The two experimental formulations possessed a specific sensory profile, due to the ingredients incorporated into the products. Consumers' evaluation established differences in the acceptance of the two products: the formulation with added olive oil was more appreciated by consumers, who displayed a higher purchase intent for this product. The study suggests that minced smoked tench is not only a promising ingredient for pâté production but that it also represents a value-added product able to contribute to freshwater food consumption., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest, (©Copyright: the Author(s), 2019.)

An experimental study for the evaluation of Listeria monocytogenes inactivation during a hot smoking process in tench was performed using Listeria innocua strains. Furthermore, the survival of L. monocytogenes in smoked tench was determined after post-processing in contaminated samples, evaluating the growth potential during storage. L innocua was not detected after the smoking process. In the challenge test, the growth potential of L. monocytogenes was 5.68 log colony forming unit g -1 . The results showed that hot smoking at an inner temperature around 72°C is able to eliminate the microorganism. Nevertheless, the product is able to support the growth of the pathogen if post-process contamination occurs, as the food is suitable for Listeria multiplication. Product recontamination should be prevented by means of appropriate application of hygiene measures., Competing Interests: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Olive mill wastewater polyphenol extract was tested for antimicrobial activity against 64 strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens responsible for mozzarella discolouration. The extract showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 50 value of 5 mg/mL and a MIC 90 value of 7 mg/mL. The MBC 50 and MBC 90 values corresponded to 6 and 8 mg/mL, respectively. The MIC concentration (7 mg/mL) was demonstrated to have a bacteriostatic effect while maintaining the bacterial concentration on the levels of the inoculum for 48 hours. The 3/2 MIC concentration was responsible for four logs CFU/mL depletion in colony count after 24 h. As the extract concentration decreased from MIC value, no inhibitory effects were recorded., Competing Interests: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

In the present study, a microbiological challenge test in artificially contaminated raw milk Pecorino Umbro cheese during cheese-making was carried out. Raw ewe milk was contaminated by a suspension of particular Listeria monocytogenes strains. The number of L. monocytogenes and L. monocytogenes dynamic growth were evaluated during cheese-making and storage. A significant decrease of the viable count of L. monocytogenes was observed during ripening and L. monocytogenes viable count was below the limit of quantification during storage. The results show that the product is unable to support the growth of the pathogen., Competing Interests: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest.