Growth Inhibitory Effect of Fermented Kimchi on Food-borne Pathogens

The effect of kimchi, traditional Korean fermented vegetables, on inactivating food-borne pathogens and the kimchi factors affecting the antimicrobial activity were investigated. More cells of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella typhimurium were inactivated in the kimchi that had low pH and high titratable acidity. Of the raw ingredients in kimchi, raw garlic showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against the pathogens. When kimchi was fermented at 0, 4, 10, or $20^{\circ}C$ to pH 4.4, higher kimchi fermentation temperature resulted in higher titratable acidity. The greatest inactivation of S. typhimurium occurred in kimchi fermented at $20^{\circ}C$, while L. monocytogenes were inactivated in kimchi fermented at $0^{\circ}C$ in situ. This study showed that appropriately fermented kimchi can inactivate various food-borne pathogens and that the fermentation temperature of the kimchi is an important factor in determining the ability of the kimchi to inactivate specific pathogens. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) multiplication and organic acids produced according to LAB metabolism play a role in inactivating food-borne pathogens in kimchi.