The effect of different pressure levels (500 and 600MPa for 1min atambient temperature) on lasagne readymeal
as a means of increasing the safety and shelf life during storage at refrigeration (4 °C) and abuse temperature
(8 °C) was investigated. High-pressure processing (500 and 600MPa for 1 min) was able to significantly reduce
the total aerobic and lactic acid bacteria counts and prolong themicrobiological shelf life of lasagne at both refrigeration
and abuse temperatures. Pressure at 600MPa was a useful tool to reduce the safety risks associated with
Staphylococcus aureus and Listeriamonocytogenes.However, abuse storage temperature facilitated the recovery of
L. monocytogenes towards the end of storage. Organoleptic evaluation revealed that HPP did not negatively influence
the quality attributes of lasagne and prolonged its organoleptic shelf life. HPP treatment can serve as a useful
additional step to enhance safety and increase the shelf life of multicomponent ready meals, such as lasagne.
Industrial relevance: The ready meals sector of the food industry has been experiencing increasing growth in the
past years. This comprehensive study explored the effects of HPP on a very popularmulticomponent ready meal
i.e., lasagne after treatment and during storage. The results showed that HPP can be successfully applied to lasagne
ready meals to decrease the risk from S. aureus and L. monocytogenes and also significantly prolong its shelf
life without affecting its organoleptic properties. The utilisation of HPP by the industry can significantly increase
safety and also provide the opportunity for this product to reach markets further away.