Assessment of spoilage microbial communities in modified atmosphere-packed ready-to-eat salad during cold storage: A comparative study using MALDI-TOF MS identification and PacBio full-length 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing.

Effect of storage temperatures and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the shelf-life and spoilage microbial dynamics of industrially produced mayonnaise-based potato salad was studied over two years (Spring 2021, Autumn 2021, Spring 2022). Three salad batches, stored at chilling and abuse temperatures ranging from 0 °C to 12 °C, were analyzed. Microbial communities were evaluated using ISO-standard microbiological methods, MALDI-TOF MS identification, and PacBio full-length 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS amplicon sequencing.