Dynamic growth models for L. monocytogenes during ripening in Camembert cheese

Population density curves for L. monocytogenes in Camembert cheese were obtained during ripening. The pH, moisture content, and the specific growth rate values for survival and growth data for each trial were used to develop and verify three levels of accuracy Camembert cheese Dynamic Models (CDMs) (location, region, and section-specific dynamic growth models). The location-specific dynamic growth model provided the most detailed information and had highest accuracy for the prediction of L. monocytogenes during ripening of Camembert cheese. Experimental data had a good fit with calculated values for the three levels of CDMs: (1) for location-specific dynamic growth model, the R² values for top center (TC), top surface (TS), center (C), bottom center (BC), and bottom surface (BS) regions were 0.92, 0.94, 0.91, 0.94, and 0.95, respectively. The standard error ranged from 0.19 to 0.24 log(CFU/g). (2) For region-specific dynamic growth model, the R² values for two regions were 0.93 (TS and C) and 0.94 (TC, BC, and BS), respectively. The standard errors were 0.19 and 0.22 log(CFU/g), respectively. (3) For section-specific dynamic growth model, the R² value was 0.93 with standard error of 0.27 log(CFU/g).