How NaCl and water content determine water activity during ripening of Gouda cheese, and the predicted effect on inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes.

This study describes the diffusion of NaCl and water in Gouda cheese during brining and ripening. Furthermore, we established water activity as a function of the NaCl-in-moisture content in Gouda cheese during ripening. We determined NaCl content, water content, and water activity in block-type Gouda cheeses that were brined for 3.8d and foil-ripened for a period of 26 wk, and in wheel-type Gouda cheeses that were brined for 0.33, 2.1, or 8.9d and subsequently nature-ripened for a period of 26 wk. The calculated diffusion coefficients of NaCl during brining were 3.6·10(-10) m(2)s(-1) in the block-type Gouda cheeses and 3.5·10(-10) m(2)s(-1) in the wheel-type Gouda cheeses. Immediately after brining, gradients of NaCl and water were observed throughout both types of cheese. During ripening, these gradients disappeared, except for the water gradient in nature-ripened cheeses. An empirical model was derived for Gouda cheese, in which water activity is expressed as a function of the NaCl-in-moisture content, as established for different brining times, locations and ripening times. Moreover, the effect of reduced water activity on inhibition of growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Gouda cheese was calculated. In addition to the presence of lactate and a pH of 5.2 to 5.3, the reduced water activity as seen in Gouda cheese can substantially contribute to inhibition of microbial growth and even to inactivation when cheeses are brined and ripened for extended times and subjected to nature-ripening.

A model to predict the fate of Listeria monocytogenes in different cheese types - A major role for undissociated lactic acid in addition to pH, water activity, and temperature.

Undissociated lactic acid has been shown to play a major role in complete growth inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes in Gouda cheese. In addition, low water activity conditions may contribute to growth inhibition. In the current study, it was assessed whether the major factors that inhibit growth of L. monocytogenes in Gouda cheese are the factors that determine growth in other types of ready-to-eat cheese as well. Various types of cheeses were selected, some of which had been associated with listeriosis, while others had not. Based on the composition of the different cheese types, the concentrations of undissociated lactic acid were calculated for each type. The ability to support growth of L. monocytogenes was predicted using the Gamma model, based on literature data on total lactic acid content, moisture content, fat content, pH, Aw, and temperature, and optimal growth rates in milk at 30-37 °C. In addition, the actual specific growth rates of L. monocytogenes in the various cheeses were calculated based on available experimental growth data. In 9 out of the 10 RTE cheeses reviewed, the undissociated lactic acid concentrations and aw determined growth/no growth of L. monocytogenes. No growth was correctly predicted for feta, Cheddar and Gouda, and growth was correctly predicted for ricotta, queso fresco, Camembert, high-moisture mozzarella, cottage and blue cheese. Growth of L. monocytogenes was not observed in practice upon inoculation of Emmental, whereas growth in this cheese type was predicted when including the above mentioned factors in the models. Other factors, presumably acetic and propionic acid, are thought to be important to inhibit growth of the pathogen in Emmental. The results from our study show that for cheeses in which lactic acid is a main acid, our model based on undissociated lactic acid, temperature, pH and aw gives a good prediction of potential outgrowth of L. monocytogenes. Implications for L. monocytogenes legislation are discussed per type of RTE cheese reviewed.