Clostridium perfringens POPULATION DYNAMICS DURING CONSTANT AND RISING TEMPERATURES IN BEEF

Abstract

ABSTRACT The population dynamics of C. perfringens organisms in autoclaved ground beef heated at 16 constant‐ or rising‐temperature conditions has been mathematically modeled. The basic model is a rate equation determined from the 16 experimental conditions. The specific reaction rate is based on an effective temperature rather than the instantaneous environmental temperature. The effective temperature for both growth and death was found to be a time average of the previous environmental temperatures. The concentration term includes both an initial lag and a maximum population concentration for continued growth as reported by Kono (1968). Between these limits and after the effective temperature is above the death initiation temperature, the equation is first‐order in concentration. The model has been verified by experimental data taken both from constant‐temperature growth conditions and from rising‐temperature growth and death conditions.