Tartaric acid in chicken marinade and Listeria after irradiation
What it found
In lab tests, chicken breast marinated with tartaric acid and then irradiated had far less Listeria monocytogenes after 12 days in the fridge.
In a consumer taste test, people did not notice a difference in flavour, tenderness, appearance or overall impression.
What they found
Studies in people
Consumer taste test
Adding tartaric acid and grape seed and green tea extracts to chicken breast fillets, with or without irradiation, did not significantly change consumer preference, tenderness, appearance or flavour.
Animal and lab studies
Listeria after storage
Chicken infused with tartaric acid at 37.5 and 75.0 mM and irradiated at 1 kGy had Listeria monocytogenes levels 2 and 3 log CFU/g lower than untreated chicken after 12 days of refrigerated storage.
Higher dose irradiation
Tartaric acid at 37.5 and 75.0 mM combined with 2 and 3 kGy irradiation brought Listeria monocytogenes down to near nondetectable levels.
What the authors conclude
“The addition of tartaric acid and natural plant extracts to chicken marinades could contribute to the prevention of L.m. contamination.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say adding tartaric acid and natural plant extracts to chicken marinades could help prevent Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
How it was done
Poultry can carry harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness and lead to costly recalls. Irradiation helps kill these bacteria, but the top dose strengths harm the taste and texture of poultry.
Chicken breast fillets were vacuum-infused with tartaric acid at two levels plus grape seed and green tea extracts, then irradiated at 1, 2 or 3 kGy. A consumer test group rated the chicken for overall impression, flavour, texture, appearance and tenderness with and without 2 kGy irradiation.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The Listeria results come from lab tests on chicken meat, not from people eating it.
- The consumer test only looked at taste and appearance, not at whether the marinade prevents illness in people.
The paper
- Title
- Antilisterial activity and consumer acceptance of irradiated chicken breast meat vacuum-infused with grape seed and green tea extracts and tartaric acid
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Over KF, Hettiarachchy NS, Perumalla AV, et al (2010). Antilisterial activity and consumer acceptance of irradiated chicken breast meat vacuum-infused with grape seed and green tea extracts and tartaric acid. Journal of food science. doi:10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01727.xPubMed 21535556DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error