Abstract:The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the efficacy of adding buffered vinegar to RTE broiler breast meat to inhibit Listeria monocytogenes growth on cooked broiler breast meat. Broiler breast fillets were vacuum-tumbled with a 15% solution (over green weight) for 30 min with a marinade consisting of different concentrations of dry vinegar (DV) or liquid vinegar (LV; 0%, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8% DV, and 1.5% LV), 1.0% sodium chloride on a total raw product basis (RPB), 0.4% sodium tripolyphosphate on a RPB and water. After marinating, the chicken was cooked to an internal temperature of 77°C. The top and bottom of each piece of broiler breast meat (200 g) was surface inoculated with 1 mL of ~5 log CFU/g of a 3 strain mixture of L. monocytogenes such that there was a target concentration of 3 log CFU/g L. monocytogenes on each chicken breast. Each chicken breast was then placed into individual packages that had the headspace exchanged for a modified atmosphere (95% CO 2 , 5% O 2 ) and stored at refrigeration temperature (2°C ± 2°C) for 0 to 60 d and sampled at 5 d intervals. No differences in L. monocytogenes counts existed among buffered vinegar treatments at any storage time. At storage times from 35 to 60 d, broiler breast meat that was treated with buffered vinegar had fewer L. monocytogenes counts (P < 0.05) than the untreated broiler breast meat and continued to control L. monocytogenes growth through 60 d of storage. Additionally, the chicken treated with 0.8% DV and 1.5% LV had 2.0 log CFU/g or less L. monocytogenes counts after 60 d of storage.