Abstract
Pasteurization is used to ensure the safety of liquid whole eggs (LWEs) before commercial distribution; however, it is insufficient to inactivate the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus cereus. This study investigated the effect of nisin on the growth kinetics of B. cereus in LWE. Samples supplemented with 0-6.25 ppm of nisin were inoculated with a four-strain cocktail of heat-shocked B. cereus spores and incubated at isothermal temperatures of 15-45 °C. The Baranyi model was fitted to all B. cereus isothermal growth profiles, generating maximum growth rate (µ(max)) and lag phase duration (LPD). The extended Ratkowsky square root model described the temperature dependency of µ(max). A second-order polynomial model assessed the combined effects of temperature and nisin on the LPD of B. cereus in LWE. A tertiary model was developed and validated using three dynamic temperature profiles. Nisin significantly extended LPD at lower temperatures, while µ(max) remained unaffected. Samples with 6.25 ppm of nisin inhibited growth for 29 days (average) at 15 °C. Although the tertiary model accurately predicted growth rates, it underpredicted LPD. Adjusting h(0) values for each experimental condition improved LPD prediction accuracy. The study's findings indicate that nisin is effective in inhibiting the growth of B. cereus spores in LWE, lowering the risk of illness.