Effect of Electrical Stimulation on the Microflora of Meat

Abstract

ABSTRACT Electrical stimulation caused an initial reduction in pH and in aerobic plate count (APC) of a mixed microflora inoculated beef tissue (50 ± 10g, M. sternocephalicus) but reduction in microflora became less significant during aerobic product storage to 14 days at 0–2°C. Electrical stimulation also reduced the APC of samples stimulated before inoculation but the reduction was not large enough to be significant. Both electrical stimulation and levels of NaCl or NaNO 2 in the culture media reduced microbial count from beef tissue, but the interactions were not significant, indicating that a synergistic effect did not occur under these experimental conditions.