Control of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in food products by a rational use of the oxydoreduction potential – Food-Redox

Cognitive and modeling works on the effect of redox potential (Eh) on the growth of pathogen and spoilage microorganisms due to stress found in food processes (eg temperature) will be conducted. A validation phase will be conducted also on selected products and processes (cheese technology, custard, meat products, salad dressing), and applied to target bacterial strains that have been stressed.

Project started six months ago, no results are yet availables.

At the end of the project, we will have a scientific and technical expertise for control of oxidation-reduction in industrial strategies to optimize stability and microbiological safety of food. Scientific communication and transfert to industry of technical project results will be structured with the support of interprofessional dairy associations; and interacting with the national MixedTechnology Network «expertise for determining the microbiological shelf life«, labeled by the French Ministry for Agriculture.

A poster was presented at the congress of Club of Lactic Acid Bacteria in May 2012, he presented one of the thesis work on the subject and the overall context of redox-Food project.

In recent years, use of new technologies has attracted attention from the food industry due to the increase in consumer demand for minimally processed food products (mild pasteurization) by preserving their nutritional and sensorial properties. The objective of the project is the control of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in food products by a rational use of the oxydoreduction potential (Eh). Eh modification will be used to allow the sanitary and quality in different types of food products. It has been already proved that Eh modification (mainly reducing) has a positive impact on the aromatic, rheological and textural properties of food. Access for food operators to a new controlled factor, Eh, will permit in interactions with environmental parameters like pH, aw, temperature, acids to optimize the shelf life of products. The project will also be in the context of food systems with low environmental impact. Food-redox can impact at a better control of energetic consumption in thermal treatment used to stabilize foods and at less withdraw of products from economics actors (operators, distributors) by allowing optimized formulations of foodstuff. Food-Redox might increase the shelf-life by a better control of microbiological safety and the quality of the production, and consequently might reduce the logistic costs. Taking into consideration this context, this project offers several opportunities: to reinforce the competitiveness of the food companies, to reinforce the safety of food and to develop of sustainable methods of production, preservation and handling of agri-food products.
The goal of the Food-Redox project is to provide an overview of the microbial cellular response of foodborne and spoilage bacteria to stress (pH, acid, or thermal) under conditions of redox controlled in view of better control these micro-organisms in food. A more comprehensive study on the impact of Eh on the physiology of micro-organisms contaminating food has never been made so far. The work plan integrate research and modelling phase of the effect of Eh on the re-growth of Lactococcus lactis, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus after acid or thermal stresses and a validation phase conducted on a selection of foods (cheese, dairy desserts, meat products, sauces, salads) based on bacterial species targeted and stress studied. This program combines 6 academic research laboratories, 4 Agro-industrial Institutes, one company leader in industrial gases, one French dairy council and 2 SME companies, closely involved in the development of processes to control Eh. The Agro-industrial institutes will implement testing at a pilot scale.
A scientific based analysis on the possibility to use Eh in new strategies for the control of the microbial contaminations in food products will be available for industry. Scientific communication and technical valorisation of project will be structured by the general committee, the French dairy council and in interaction with the joint national technological network "Expertise on determination of food products microbial shelf life", qualified by the French Ministry of Agriculture in August 2007.