5. Conclusions
C. botulinum spores can germinate and grow in pressure-treated,
cooked chicken during storage at 8 C. As the shelf-life of cooked
chicken is extended significantly by HPP, some method of controlling
C. botulinum during extended storage is necessary. Germination
and growth was controlled by the addition of 2% w/w
sodium lactate or by the use of oxygen permeable packaging. While
2% sodium lactate could be used as a control measure, oxygenpermeable
packing should only be used as an additional control
measure to help ensure safety, not as the sole control measure.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Aideen Mackle and Andrew
Fulton for excellent technical assistance. This work was funded by
the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern
Ireland.