Studying And Modelling The Combined Effect Of Temperature And Water Activity On The Growth Rate Of P. Expansum

The effect of solutes, water activity (aw, 0.890–0.980) and temperature (5–25 8C) on the mycelial growth rate of Penicillium expansum was evaluated. The growth rate dropped as the temperature and aw of the medium decreased. NaCl was the solute causing the greatest growth rate reduction, followed by glucose, glycerol and sorbitol. Statistical analysis of the results showed a significant effect of solute, aw, temperature and combinations of two or three of these factors ( P b0.0001). Whatever the solutes and aw values, the initiation of colony growth required an additional day at 15 8C and 5 8C as compared to initiation at 25 8C. Growth models based on the results obtained with sorbitol and glycerol differed only slightly, with R2 values of 97.00% and 97.95%, respectively. The response surfaces of both quadratic polynomial models showed that P. expansum should be able to grow at low aw (0.890) and that growth at 25 8C should be fastest at aw values ranging from 0.960 to 0.980. Both models presented a good fit between predicted and observed values

Editorial: Future topics of common interest for EU and SEA partners in food quality, safety and traceability

SEA-EU-NET project is based on the program Capacities under the 7th Framework Program (FP7) of the EU Commission with the strategic objective of Integrating and Strengthening the EU-ASEAN Science and Technology Dialogue through coordination and supporting activities. It is a 4 years program started in January 2008, and is currently supported by 22 institutions from Europe and South-East Asia. The objective is to increase the quality, quantity, profile and impact of bi-regional Science and Technology cooperation between the 10 ASEAN countries and the Members and Associated States of the European Union. Every Thematic Priority of FP7 has to implement dedicated international cooperation activities to achieve the program's goals and to address specific problems of ‘Third Countries/Regions’ (non-EU Members States or non-Associated States). This activity is performed through the organization of annual Thematic Workshops, with the objective to produce a document containing duly justified proposals for Specific International Cooperation Actions. This paper presents the results of the Thematic Workshop on ‘Food Quality, Safety and Traceability’. This expert meeting was done in Thailand in February 2009. Titles for 10 possible themes were identified on the following fields: Bacteria antibioresistance, Mycotoxins, Pathogens (bacteria), Pesticides, Heavy metals, Food traceability, Food Supply Chain, Preserving nutrients, Consumers attitudes, Peri-urban markets