Short communication: Mycosporine-like amino acids protect natamycin against photodegradation in milk exposed to fluorescent or light-emitting diode light

• Published in: Journal of dairy science 2019-06, Vol.102 (6), p.4972-4977
• Main Authors: Teixeira, G.H.A., O'Keefe, S.F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acids - pharmacology; Animals; Antifungal Agents - chemistry; Cattle; Lighting; milk; Milk - chemistry; Milk - radiation effects; mycosporine-like amino acid; natamycin; Natamycin - chemistry; Photolysis - drug effects; Radiation-Protective Agents - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-15658

Natamycin has been used as a natural antimicrobial in dairy products, but the poor light stability of natamycin can limit usefulness in food products. Mycosporine-like amino acids are strong UV absorbers and might be useful as an additive to decrease light-induced degradations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the photoprotective effect of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAA) in cow milk stored under 2 lighting conditions in retail commercial display cabinets with fluorescent and high intensity light-emitting diode illumination. When milk was exposed to both fluorescent and light-emitting diode light, natamycin degradation was very fast, and only 17.1 ± 0.9% of its original concentration was observed after 8 d at 4.0°C. On the other hand, by adding MAA into milk, natamycin was retained at 82.2 ± 0.9% and 92.2 ± 0.9% when low and high MAA levels were used, respectively. However, high MAA levels resulted in color changes. Therefore, MAA at low levels had a photoprotective effect for natamycin stability in cow milk exposed to light in refrigerated glass containers.