Effect of chitosan on spoilage bacteria, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes in cured chicken meat.

The effects of essential oil (EO) of oregano and chitosan on the microbial quality and growth inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the Iranian traditional ready-to-barbecue chicken was evaluated. Thus, three groups of samples were prepared. One of them was considered to evaluate for aerobic plate count (APC), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), psychrophilic and enterobacteriacae counts and the other two groups were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes 4b to investigate the effect of oregano EO and chitosan on pathogenic bacteria. All groups were stored at 3, 8 and 20°C. Oregano showed antibacterial effects against APC, LAB, psychrophilics, enterobacteriacae and E. coli O157:H7, whereas, such an effect was not observed against L. monocytogenes. Chitosan individually did not show an inhibitory effect on the spoilage-inducing bacteria and E. coli, but was effective against L. monocytogenes. Using chitosan and oregano EO in combination can reduce the number of spoilage and safety indicators and also the two food-borne pathogens in ready-to-barbecue chicken meat.