Growth of Bacillus cereus in natural and acidified carrot substrates over the temperature range 5–30°C Original Research Article

Minimally processed refrigerated foods have a relevant potential in the food market, although the potential risk posed by sporulated emerging psycrotrophs pathogens has to be evaluated. Bacillus cereus is one of these pathogenic micro-organisms. In this paper, the ability to grow of several strains of B. cereus in nutrient broth and in a carrot-based substrate (broth) was evaluated. All the strains tested grew at 12°C or higher temperatures both in nutrient broth and in carrot substrate. One of the strains was able to grow rapidly even at 5°C. Acidification of the carrot substrate proved to be efficient inhibiting B. cereus. For the two strains tested, growth was not observed at pH below 4·75 acidifiying with citric acid or with lemon juice. When the effect of pH was combined with refrigeration, acidification at pH 5·0 was sufficient to inhibit B. cereus at 12°C or lower temperatures. Therefore, the combination of these two factors could have a great potential to control B. cereus growth in minimally processed foods, such as carrot based products. Additionally, lemon juice can be considered as a more natural alternative to citric acid.