A validated predictive model for Listeria innocua growth at superatmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations

The effect of superatmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations on the growth of Listeria innocua, which was used as a model organism for the pathogen L. monocytogenes, was evaluated. The bacteria were grown on a nutrient agar surface at 7 C. Three carbon dioxide levels (0%, 12.5% and 25%) were combined with different levels of high oxygen concentrations (above 20%) based on a mixture design. The applied oxygen concentrations did not significantly influence the growth. High CO2 concentrations, on the contrary, reduced the maximum specific growth rate and prolonged the lag time. An overall model to describe growth of Listeria innocua under high carbon dioxide conditions was constructed based on nine growth experiments, using a one-step regression procedure. The influence of carbon dioxide on lag time and maximum specific growth rate was described using Ratkowsky-type models and inserted in the Baranyi-equation. The model described the growth very well. To assess the validity of the model, 14 additional experiments were carried out. There was a good correlation of the model predictions and observed validation data.