Elsevier Food Spoilage Microorganisms (Woodhead Publishing Series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition)

Action by microorganisms is a common means of food spoilage and ensuring that a product has a suitable shelf-life is a critical factor in food quality. With current trends towards less-severe processing techniques, reduced use of preservatives and higher consumption of perishable foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, the deterioration of foods by microbial spoilage is an increasing problem for the food industry. Methods to detect, analyse and manage food spoilage are reviewed in the opening parts of this collection. The following chapters focus on important yeasts, moulds and bacteria, their classification, growth characteristics and detection and the implications of these factors for their control in food products. Key Features: looks at tools, techniques and methods for the detection and analysis of microbial food spoilage; discusses the management control of microbial food spoilage; looks in detail at yeasts, moulds and bacteria. Contents: Part 1 Detection and analysis of food spoilage: Quantitative detection and identification methods for microbial spoilage; Detection, identification and enumeration methods for spoilage yeasts; Detection, identification and enumeration methods for spoilage moulds; Modelling microbial spoilage; Determining the stability and shelf-life of foods. Part 2 Managing food spoilage: Managing microbial food spoilage: an overview; Managing microbial spoilage in the dairy industry; Managing microbial spoilage in cereal and baking products; Managing microbial spoilage in the meat industry. Part 3 Spoilage yeasts: Zygosaccharomyces and related genera; Saccharomyces and related genera; Candida and related genera; Dekkera/Brettanomyces spp. Part 4 Spoilage moulds: General characteristics of moulds; Zygomycetes; Penicillium and related genera; Aspergillus and related teleomorphs; Other types of spoilage moulds. Part 5 Spoilage bacteria: Pseudomonas and related genera; Lactic acid bacteria; Spore-forming bacteria; Enterobacteriaceae; Other spoilage bacteria.