Factors affecting the viability of Staphylococcus aureus and production of enterotoxin during processing and storage of white-brined cheese

Staphylococcus aureus is a major foodborne pathogen that causes severe disease in humans. It is commonly found in milk and dairy products, particularly in fresh brined cheese. Our aim was to investigate the behavior of Staph. aureus and enterotoxin production during the storage of white-brined cheese prepared with or without a starter culture and stored in a 10 or 15% NaCl brine at 10 degrees C and 25 degrees C for 28 d. NaCl concentration, water activity, pH, and number of Staph. aureus and lactic acid bacteria were determined in cheese and brine. Only 1 of 4 Staph. aureus strains (ATCC 439) was posi-tive for enterotoxin production, and its production was detected in unsalted UHT milk, but not in salted milk or in any of the cheese treatments held at 37 degrees C for 1, 3, or 7 d. Staphylococcus aureus grew in the cheese stored in both brines at 10 degrees C and 25 degrees C, regardless of the presence of a starter culture, although the latter significantly reduced Staph. aureus growth in cheese or its brine at 10 degrees C. Staphylococcus aureus numbers were increased by 2.26 and 0.47 log(10) cfu/g in cheese stored in 10 and 15% NaCl brine, respectively, in the presence of starter culture, and by 2.78 and 2.96 log 10 cfu/g, respectively, in the absence of starter culture at 10 degrees C. Nonetheless, the pathogen grew, but at a lower number in the brines. The salt concentration of cheese stored in 10% brine remained at approximately 5% during storage; however, in 15% brine, the salt concentration increased to almost 8% (wt/wt) by 28 d. The addition of a starter culture, high salt concentration, low tem-perature, and pH (similar to 5.2) had inhibitory effects on the growth of Staph. aureus . Moreover, lactic acid bacterial numbers increased considerably in cheese and brine by d 28. The use of starter cultures, salt (15%), and low storage temperature (10 degrees C) reduced the growth of Staph. aureus , and salt may have prevented enterotoxin production in white-brined cheese.