Viability of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes within Plant versus Beef Burgers during Cold Storage and following Pan Frying

The viability of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes within plant- and beef-based burgers was monitored during storage and cooking. When inoculated (ca. 3.5 log CFU/g) into 15-g portions of plant- or beef-based burgers, levels of STEC and Salmonella decreased slightly (<= 0.5-log decrease) in both types of burgers when stored at 4C, but increased ca. 2.4 and 0.8 log CFU/g, respectively, in plant-based burgers but not beef-based burgers (<= 1.2-log decrease), after 21 days at 10 degrees C. For L. monocytogenes, levels increased by ca. 1.3 and 2.6 log CFU/g in plant burgers after 21 days at 4 and 10 degrees C, respectively, whereas pathogen levels decreased slightly (<= 0.9-log decrease) in beef burgers during storage at 4 and 10C. Regarding cooking, burgers (ca. 114 g each) were inoculated with ca. 7.0 log CFU/g STEC, Salmonella, or L. monocytogenes and cooked in a sautE pan. Cooking plant- or beef-based burgers to 62.8C (145F), 68.3C (155F), or 73.9 degrees C (165 degrees F) delivered reductions ranging from ca. 4.7 to 6.8 log CFU/g for STEC, ca. 4.4 to 7.0 log CFU/g for L. monocytogenes, and ca. 3.5 to 6.7 log CFU/g for Salmonella. In summary, the observation that levels of all three pathogens increased by ca. 1.0 to ca. 2.5 log CFU/g in plant-based burgers when stored at an abusive temperature (10 degrees C) highlights the importance of proper storage (4 degrees C) to lessen risk. However, because all three pathogens responded similarly to heat in plant-based as in beef-based burgers, well-established cooking parameters required to eliminate STEC, Salmonella, or L. monocytogenes from ground beef should be as effective for controlling cells of these same pathogens in a burger made with plant-sourced protein.