Article: Controlling wayward water.(r&d applications)(Decagon Devices Inc. offers instruments to measure water activity)

Certain FDA regulations help assure the safety of low-acid and acidified foods in hermetically sealed containers. These rules do not cover products with a water activity level of less than 0.85 because food pathogens generally do not grow below a range of 0.95. See chart "Limited Opportunity for Growth."

As the water activity of foods and ingredients is lowered, fewer organisms are able to grow in the product. The only pathogen capable of growing below 0.90 is S. aureus. Research indicates this organism may produce enterotoxin at water activities as low as 0.867. Intermediate-moisture foods also are regulated to [A.sub.w] levels of 0.85 or below to assure ...

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