Ethanol and water extracts were prepared from defatted cranberry pomace by pressurized liquid extraction and tested in bacterial cultures of L. monocytogenes, B. thermospacta, P. putida, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), and pork meat products. Anthocynanins (glucosides, galactosides and arabinosides of cyanidin and peonidins), phenolic compounds and organic acids (quinic, chlorogenic, malic and citric acids; procyanidin B3, myricetin and quercetin derivatives) were determined in the extracts. The extracts effectively inhibited the growth of tested bacteria at higher than 3.3% concentration. The effect of 2% ethanol extract additive on the inhibition of the same bacteria was also determined in non-inoculated and inoculated with bacteria pork slurry, pork burgers, and cooked ham. The results showed a significant growth inhibition of pathogenic L. monocytogenes and some other species in pork slurry, burgers and cooked ham with cranberry pomace ethanol extract as compared with the control samples. The extract also effectively inhibited the formation of oxidation indicator malondialdehyde in meat products. Slight impact of extract on some physico-chemical properties of meat products such as pH, metmyoglobin content was also observed, while it did not have significant influence on water activity. Extract addition imparted some color changes; however, it did not have negative effect on the overall sensory quality of burgers and cooked ham. High effectiveness of extract additive against pathogenic L. monocytogenes and some other tested bacteria in pork slurry, burgers and cooked ham during refrigerated storage for 16, 16 and 40 days, respectively, suggest that ethanol extract of defatted cranberry pomace may be a promising natural ingredient of meat products for increasing their microbiological safety and improving oxidative stability.

AIMS: To evaluate synergetic effect of slight acidic electrolysed water (SAEW) and fumaric acid (FA) on inactivation of total viable count (TVC) and Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium in fresh beef and to study shelf life and sensory quality of beef. METHODS AND RESULTS: Inoculated samples was dipped for 1, 3 and 5 min and immersed at 25, 40 and 60°C in SAEW, strong acidic electrolysed water (StAEW) and SAWE + FA. Treated meat was air‐packaged and stored at 4 or 10°C. During storage, sampling was performed at 2‐day intervals for microbiological and sensory changes. TVC was decontaminated at 40°C for 3 min by more than 3·70 log CFU g⁻¹, and examined pathogens were reduced by more than 2·60 log CFU g⁻¹with SAEW + FA treatment. This treatment prolonged shelf life of beef meat up to 9 and 7 days when stored at 4 and 10°C, respectively. CONCLUSION: The combined treatment of SAEW + FA showed greater bactericidal effect and prolonged shelf life compared with individual treatments. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Combined treatment of SAEW and FA can be a suitable hurdle technology reducing bacteria in fresh beef, substantially enhancing their microbial safety and decreasing pathogens growth during storage.