Modelling the influence of the incubation temperature upon the estimated heat resistance of heated bacillus spores

Abstract

Aims: In this study, the influence of the incubation temperature on the D-values was described according to a simple Bigelow-like model. Methods: Model parameters were estimated from different sets of data from the literature and from our own data. For different Bacillus species and heat-treatment conditions, the influence of the recovery temperature was quantified and the optimal recovery temperature was determined. Results: The impacts of species, bacterial strains belonging to the same species, heat-treatment temperature and composition of recovery media on the model parameters were analysed. The optimum recovery temperatures differ greatly from one species to another; however, no difference appears clearly between strains belonging to the same species. D values were significantly affected by recovery temperature. This influence of recovery temperature was dependent on the species, and affected by the composition of recovery media but not by the heating temperature. Significance and Impact of the Study: The developed model could be useful for determining the optimal incubation temperature and quantifying the weight of the recovery temperature influence for safe security control in the canning industry. © 2006 The Authors.