In vitro evaluation of the competing effect of Carnobacterium maltaromaticum isolated from vacuum packed meat against food pathogens

Foodborne disease outbreaks are one of the leading causes of infections, hospitalizations and deaths provoked by pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. Carnobacterium maltaromaticum is a lactic acid bacteria, which could prevent the growth of pathogens in refrigerated food. The aim of this study was to determine the bioprotective potential of three strains of C. maltaromaticum isolated from chilled vacuum packed beef. They were tested in vitro against the pathogens described above. The results indicate that the selected strains have an antilisterial activity, which is optimized at low temperatures. Moreover, when the strains were combined with EDTA it was observed a slight, but significant, inhibition of the gram-negative bacteria used in this study.