Effects of Potassium Lactate and Acetate on Listeria monocytogenes Inhibition, Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Smoked Catfish Fillets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of liquid and wood smoking with a potassium lactate (PL) and acetate (PA) combination on the quality and inhibition of L. monocytogenes growth in ready-to-eat (RTE) smoked catfish fillets. Catfish fillets were tumbled with PL and PA, and treated with no smoke (NS), wood smoke (WS), liquid smoke 1 (LS1), and liquid smoke 2 (LS2). Wood smoke with antimicrobials (WSWA) showed greater inhibition (p < 0.05) of L. monocytogenes growth than other treatments with the exception of the LS1 treatment with antimicrobials. Consumers preferred (p < 0.05) smoked catfish fillets treated with WS to LS1 with respect to appearance, odor, flavor, texture, and overall acceptability. In conclusion, the use of PL and PA did not have a negative impact on the quality and sensory properties of smoked catfish fillets but had a synergistic effect with wood smoke constituents that inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes.