Bioaerosol exposure method for package integrity testing

• Published in: Journal of food protection Vol. 59; no. 7; pp. 768 - 771
• Main Authors: Keller, S.W. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA.), Marcy, J.E, Blakistone, B.A, Lacy, G.H, Hackney, C.R, Carter, W.H. Jr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Des Moines, IA International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians 01.07.1996
• Subjects: AEROSOL; AEROSOLES; ALIMENTOS; Biological and medical sciences; CONDITIONNEMENT; EMPAQUETADO; ENSAYO; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; GROSSEUR DES PARTICULES; Handling, storage, packaging, transport; INNOCUITE DES PRODUITS ALIMENTAIRES; INOCUIDAD ALIMENTARIA; MOUVEMENT; MOVIMIENTO; PERDIDAS; PERTE; PRODUIT ALIMENTAIRE; PSEUDOMONAS FRAGI; RECIPIENT; RECIPIENTES; TAMANO DE LA PARTICULA; TEMPS; TESTAGE; TIEMPO; Performance evaluation; Manufacturing defect; Quality control; Analytical method; Aerosols; Packaging; Foodstuff; Bioaerosol; package integrity; channel leaks
• ISSN: 0362-028X; 1944-9097
• DOI: 10.4315/0362-028X-59.7.768

Test organism motility, concentration, aerosol exposure time, hole diameter and length were evaluated to determine their influence on microbial ingress into a flexible plastic pouch. Microtubes with 10- and 20-micrometers hole diameters and of 5- and 10-mm lengths were used as defects in 128 flexible pouches. A bioaerosol with a 2.68-micrometers mean particle size comprised of 10(2) or 10(6) CFU/ml source concentrations of motile or nonmotile Pseudomonas fragi TM 849 was introduced into a 119,911-cm3 chamber for exposures of 15 or 30 minutes. Six pouches showed test organism growth after a 72-h incubation period. Microbial ingress was significant (P 0.05) for motile test organisms with source concentrations of 10(6) CFU/ml