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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Food Safety and Intervention Technologies Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300514
Title: Behavior of native microbial populations of WPC-34 and WPC-80 whey protein stored at different temperatures

Author
item Ukuku, Dike
item Onwulata, Charles
item Thomas-Gahring, Audrey
item Mukhopadhyay, Sudarsan
item Tunick, Michael

Submitted to: Journal of Food Processing and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2014
Publication Date: 3/6/2014
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/59461
Citation: Ukuku, D.O., Onwulata, C.I., Thomas-Gahring, A.E., Mukhopadhyay, S., Tunick, M.H. 2014. Behavior of native microbial populations of WPC-34 and WPC-80 whey protein stored at different temperatures. Journal of Food Processing and Technology. DOI: 10.4172/2157-7110l.1000304.

Interpretive Summary: Whey protein (WPC34 and 80) has been used as food ingredients and as a base for making biodegradable product. However, there is limited information on the behavior of native microflora associated with these products. Behaviors of different classes of native microflora of WPC 34 and WPC80 under storage conditions were tested at 5, 10, 15, 22 and 30 deg C for 7 days. Overall microbial populations in WPC34 and WPC80 averaged 6.8 log and 7.1 log CFU/g, respectively. Storage temperatures for 7 days did not change the populations of these bacteria in all samples. The results of this study suggest that storage temperature up to 30 deg C for 7 days would not change the native microbial population.

Technical Abstract: Whey protein (WPC34 and 80) has been used as food ingredients and as a base for making biodegradable product. However, there is limited information on the behavior of native microflora associated with these products. WPC 34 and WPC80 were obtained from the manufacturer, and were stored at 5, 10, 15, 22 and 30 deg C for 7 days. Immediately after receiving WPC 34 and WPC80 from the manufacturer and storage as stated above, the initial classes of microorganism and the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) associated with the overall microbial populations were determined. The total microbial populations in WPC34 and WPC80 determined immediately and after storage for 7 days averaged 6.8 log and 7.1 log CFU/g, respectively. Similarly, the ATP values associated with the total microbial populations in WPC34 and WPC80 averaged 62 and 73 RLU, respectively. Class of microorganism estimated from WPC80 averaged 2.8 log CFU/g for aerobic mesophilic bacteria, below detection (<2 CFU) for yeast and mold and coliform bacteria, 2.6 and 2.4 log CFU/g for lipolytic and lactobacillus bacteria, respectively. For WPC34, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, yeast and mold, coliform bacteria, Lipolytic and lactobacillus bacteria determined averaged 3.0, 1.5, below detection (<2 CFU), 2.0 and 3.0 log CFU/g, respectively. The populations of these classes of bacteria in all samples varied during storage but were not significantly (p>0.05) different. The results of this study suggest that storage temperature up to 30 deg C would not change the native microbial population.