Abstract: In high hydrostatic pressure treatment, bacterial spores are more resistant than vegetative cells thus pressure treatment alone is not sufficient in inactivating bacterial spores. High hydrostatic pressure processing can effectively inactivate vegetative bacteria; however, the knowledge about inactivation on bacterial spores by the high hydrostatic pressure is still limited. Recently, many researchers demonstrated that the combination of high hydrostatic pressure with moderate heat treatment were effective in increasing the inactivation of bacterial spores. This review focuses on food safety and spores, high hydrostatic pressure-induced germination and effects of high hydrostatic pressure on inactivation of bacterial spores.

Key words: high hydrostatic pressure, inactivation, bacterial spores