Control of Listeria monocytogenes on the Surface of Refrigerated, Ready‐to‐eat Chicken Coated with Edible Zein Film Coatings Containing Nisin and/or Calcium Propionate

This study investigated the effect of nisin added to zein film coatings (Z) coated onto ready‐to‐eat chicken against L. monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes inoculated chicken samples were dipped into Z dissolved in propylene glycol (ZP) or ethanol (ZE), with and without added nisin (N) (1000 IU/g) and/or 1% calcium propionate (CP) then stored at 4 °C or 8 °C for 24 d. After 16 d at 4 °C the growth of L. monocytogenes (6.8 log CFU/g) was suppressed by 4.5 to 5 log CFU/g and at 2.7 log CFU/g counts were maintained at a nondetectable level from day 0 to day 24 with ZEN, ZPNCP, or ZENCP. Zein film coatings with nisin can prevent the growth of L. monocytogenes on ready‐to‐eat chicken.