Mahboubeh Mirhosseini1, Narjes Mohammadi, Maryam Shirzad
"Recently, the use of metal oxide nanoparticles to control and prevent the spread of microorganisms is an expanding field of research. The objective of this study was conducted to validate combined heat and ZnO nanoparticle (NP) treatments for inactivating Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in milk. A mixture of three strains of E. coli, L. monocytogenes and S. aureus was inoculated onto the milk samples. A combinations of various concentrations of ZnO NP [0%, 0.025%, 0.05% (W/V)] and various temperatures (50 oC and 60 oC) was investigated. Following the treatment, milk samples were stored at room temperature and enumerated on 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 days. Heat and ZnO NP treatments were synergistic. Inhibitory effects of these combined treatments on the tested foodborne pathogens were also effective during storage"