Title: Development of a probability model for enterotoxin production of Bacillus cereus

Authors: Ding T, Wang J, Park M, Hwang C, Oh D

Journal: J Food Prot

Accepted date: 2012 Oct 11

Interpretive summary: Bacillus cereus (B. cereus)is a pathogen capable of producing toxins that cause severe food poisoning. The objectives of this study were to assess the toxin production of B. cereus as affected by pH (5.0, 6.0, 7.2, 8.0, and 8.5) and storage temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35C) and develop a model to describe the probability of the toxin production. The resulting model showed that the probabilities of toxin production of B. cereus increased as the temperature increased and/or as the pH approached pH 7.0. The model described the experimental data satisfactorily and identified the pH and temperature limits for the production of B. cereus toxins. The model can be used to select product pH and storage temperatures for foods to reduce the health hazards associated with B. cereus.

Publication date: 2013 Feb

Volume: 76

Issue: 2

Pages: 343-7