BAT Culture Media

Detection of Alicyclobacilli spp. and Alicyclobacilli which form guaiacol 

Alicyclobacilli are aerobic, acidophilic and thermophilic bacteria that can grow in highly acidic beverages such as in fruit juices, but also in the raw materials for these, such as fruit juice concentrates or sugar syrup. With their ability to form spores, they can survive the pasteurisation process and continue to grow vegetatively under optimal conditions. According to scientific findings, only 3 of the approximately 40 known alicyclobacilli have the potential to produce the guaiacol which spoils beverages with its strong off-flavour (intense chemical smell).

The detection method takes place in 2 steps. First, the possible contamination is enriched and isolated via cultivation with our ready-to-use nutrient media BAT Broth and Agar. In the second step, the biochemical Guaiacol Detection Kit is used to analyse the isolated alicyclobacillus bacteria for its ability to form guaiacol.

The BAT Culture Media and the Guaiacol Detection Kit are described in the IFU (International Fruit and Vegetable Juice Association) Method No.12 "Method on the Detection and Enumeration of Spore-forming Thermo-Acidophilic Spoilage bacteria“