EXOTOXIN PRODUCTION BY AEROMONAS SPP IN FOODS

A psychrotrophic toxin-producing strain of Aeromonas hydrophila grew w ell in a range of food slurries (scallop, prawn, fish, chicken liver p ate, liverwurst, chicken luncheon slice and commercial baby food prepa rations) held at refrigeration temperatures. In most foods, excluding the baby food preparations, exotoxins were produced at levels comparab le with production in bacteriological broth without apparent food spoi lage (all but prawn and fish). Addition of ultra-heat treated (UHT) mi lk to toxin-containing broth culture supernatants markedly decreased o r removed haemolytic and cytotoxic activities, explaining low levels o f toxins found in milk in a previous study. Baby food preparations did not inactivate exotoxins under similar conditions suggesting producti on toxins rather than their inactivation was inhibited in these foods.