Effect of high-pressure processing on the shelf life, safety and organoleptic characteristics of lasagne ready meals during storage at refrigeration and abuse temperature

The effect of different pressure levels (500 and 600 MPa for 1 min at ambient temperature) on lasagne ready meal as a means of increasing the safety and shelf life during storage at refrigeration (4 °C) and abuse temperature (8 °C) was investigated. High-pressure processing (500 and 600 MPa for 1 min) was able to significantly reduce the total aerobic and lactic acid bacteria counts and prolong the microbiological shelf life of lasagne at both refrigeration and abuse temperatures. Pressure at 600 MPa was a useful tool to reduce the safety risks associated with Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. However, abuse storage temperature facilitated the recovery of L. monocytogenes towards the end of storage. Organoleptic evaluation revealed that HPP did not negatively influence the quality attributes of lasagne and prolonged its organoleptic shelf life. HPP treatment can serve as a useful additional step to enhance safety and increase the shelf life of multicomponent ready meals, such as lasagne. Industrial relevance The ready meals sector of the food industry has been experiencing increasing growth in the past years. This comprehensive study explored the effects of HPP on a very popular multicomponent ready meal i.e., lasagne after treatment and during storage. The results showed that HPP can be successfully applied to lasagne ready meals to decrease the risk from S. aureus and L. monocytogenes and also significantly prolong its shelf life without affecting its organoleptic properties. The utilisation of HPP by the industry can significantly increase safety and also provide the opportunity for this product to reach markets further away