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Shelf Stability Predictor

Developed by the Center for Meat Process Validation at the University of Wisconsin - Madison

About

Listeria Our Shelf Stability Predictor provides a set of models for predicting the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA) on Ready-To-Eat meat products as a function of pH and water activity. Use these tools to help you decide if your product is shelf stable.

A shelf stable product:

  • Will not support the growth of L. monocytogenes (LM) and,
  • Will not support the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) and,
  • Is vacuum-packaged, packed under modified atmosphere (MAP), or packed with an oxygen scavenger.

Shelf Stability Predictor

Instructions

Instructions Icon
  1. Enter the pH and water activity of your product in the spaces indicated.1
  2. Select Calculate.

The predictor will indicate the probability of L. monocytogenes and S. aureus growth on this product, on a scale of 0 = growth very unlikely to 1 = growth very likely.

A value of 0.20 or lower is a clear indicator that L. monocytogenes and S. aureus will not grow, while a value of 0.80 or higher indicates that L. monocytogenes and S. aureus are likely to grow.2

Listeria growth predictor

Enter data:

pH (4.5 - 6.5)
Water Activity (0.47 - 0.98)

Probability of Growth:

Staph growth predictor

Enter data:

pH (4.4 - 6.6)
Water Activity (0.68 - 0.98)

Probability of Growth:

Probability of Growth Scale. Growth unlikely between 0.00 and 0.20. Growth may occur between 0.20 and 0.79; challenge study required to determine whether growth could occur on this product. Growth likely between 0.80 and 1.00.
* challenge study needed

©2009 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

1To use the Listeria tool, the pH must be between 4.5 and 6.5. The water activity must be between 0.47 and 0.98. To use the Staph tool, the pH must be between 4.4 and 6.6. The water activity must be between 0.68 and 0.98. If the pH or water activity value for your product is too high — do not use these tools. If either value for your product is too low — enter the minimum value and then use the tools.

2A probability value between 0.21 and 0.80 indicates that your product should be specifically tested in a challenge study to determine whether L. monocytogenes and/or S. aureus can grow on it. To have a challenge study done, contact a microbiological testing lab.

Background

For many years, processors used USDA labeling standards as a guide for deciding whether a Ready-To-Eat (RTE) meat product is shelf-stable. For example, if beef jerky had a Moisture:Protein Ratio (MPR) of 0.75 or lower, it was considered shelf-stable. It is no longer USDA policy to accept this reasoning. Processors must evaluate their product in terms of properties like pH and water activity to determine whether an RTE product is shelf-stable. The pathogens most likely to grow on dried and/or acidified RTE products are toxin-producing molds, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. Mold growth can be effectively prevented by vacuum-packaging, low-oxygen modified atmosphere packaging, or by adding oxygen scavengers to the packaged product. You should use one of these types of packaging for any product you sell as shelf-stable.

References

Ingham, S.C., D.L. Borneman, C.Ane, and B.H. Ingham. 2010. Predicting Growth / No-Growth of Listeria monocytogenes on Vacuum-Packaged Ready-To-Eat Meats. Journal of Food Protection. 73: 708-714. Click HERE for a copy of this paper.

Borneman, D.L., S.C. Ingham, and C. Ane. 2009. Predicting Growth / No-Growth of Staphylococcus aureus on Vacuum-Packaged Ready-To-Eat Meats. Journal of Food Protection. 72: 539-548. Click HERE for a copy of this paper.