National Agricultural Library

Development of Antimicrobial Coatings for Improving the Microbiological Safety and Quality of Shell Eggs

This study was conducted to develop antimicrobial coatings to decontaminate and prevent cross-contamination of shell eggs. Egg shells were inoculated with nalidixic acid resistant Salmonella enterica Enteritidis strains OB030832, OB040159, and C405, and then treated with antimicrobial coatings. Polylactic acid (PLA) served as a non-edible polymer and chitosan served as an edible polymer to carry natural antimicrobials including nisin, allyl isothiocyanate (AIT), lauric arginate ester (LAE) and organic acids. Increase of AIT concentration or addition of nisin to AIT in PLA or chitosan coating solutions resulted in greater reduction of Salmonella. Chitosan coatings with 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0% of LAE reduced Salmonella by 1.7, 2.5, and 5.2 log CFU/cm2, respectively. Shell eggs treated with 1 and 0.5% LAE in chitosan coatings had non-detectable Salmonella cells (< 0.5 log CFU/cm2) after 3 and 7 days stored at 7°C, respectively, and no outgrowth was observed through the end of 28 days. In addition, coating treatments significantly reduced the weight loss of shell eggs during 12 weeks of storage at 7 or 4°C. This study demonstrates an alternative and effective intervention technology for decontaminating shell eggs and provides an alternative approach to reduce possible recalls and outbreaks associated with pathogen contamination on shell eggs and in egg products.

Journal of Food Protection

Volume 76, Number 5

pp. 779-785