Abstract:

This study was designed to establish a model of the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat dishes at
different temperatures. An isolated strain of L. monocytogenes was inoculated to ready-to-eat dishes to obtain growth data at
35 ℃. Other data at 5, 10, 15, 20 ℃ and 25 ℃ were obtained from the ComBase database. Logistic model was selected as the
primary model, which was fitted to achieve maximum growth rate (MGR) and lag phase (LP), and the MGR and LP were used
to establish a linear model, a square root model and a Ratkowsky model, respectively. The mathematical models were validated.
The results showed that the Ratkowsky model was the best one to predict the growth of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat
dishes. This study may provide a theoretical reference for quantitative microbial risk assessment of L. monocytogenes in readyto-
eat dishes.

Key words: ready-to-eat dishes, Listeria monocytogenes, growth model, predictive microbiology