Bacillus cereus spore inactivation by peracetic acid for aseptic packaging application

The aim of this study was to establish a quantitative framework for assessing the kinetics of Bacillus cereus spore inactivation with peracetic acid (PAA) treatment at concentrations of 300, 1500, and 2500 mg/L (ppm) over a temperature range from 23 to 55 °C. The inactivation behavior of spores was analyzed using log-linear and Weibull models. At reference temperature of 50 °C, parameters were standardized for consistency in estimations. D-values of 0.14, 0.04, and 0.03 min for PAA concentrations of 300, 1500, and 2500 mg/L were estimated using the log-linear model, with z-values of 32.65, 33.39, and 35.02 °C, respectively. Weibull model also exhibited similar trends with estimated δ-values of 0.21, 0.04, and 0.03 min and z-values of 31.89, 33.43, and 35.02 °C, respectively. Root mean square error (RMSE), was used as statistical indicator to evaluate model's performance showing values ranged from 0.66 to 0.71 log CFU/ml, indicating high predictive accuracy. Furthermore, the sum of squares ranging from 30.00 to 45.90 and AIC values between −132.47 and −204.21 validated the models' reliability in describing PAA spore inactivation. These results will help the aseptic industry in enhancing packaging sterilization for industrial applications. • Peracetic acid effectively inactivated Bacillus cereus spores under various conditions. • Weibull model outperformed log-linear in predicting spore inactivation kinetics. • Dose-dependent spore structural damage was observed via TEM, including spore coat, cortex, and core degradation. • Statistical analysis provided insights into the relationship between PAA concentration, temperature, and spore inactivation.