ABSTRACTHeterotrophic bacteria isolated from two shore‐based surimi processing plants in Alaska were identified to the genus level. In one plant, the major bacterial constituents wereFlavobacteriumandPseudomonas, followed byMoraxella, Aeromonas, Lactobacillus, Serratia, andAcinetobacter.In the other plant, major bacterial groups wereFlavobacteriumandArthrobacter/Corynebacterium, followed byPseudomonasandAcinetobacter. Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, andSerratiawere capable of rapid growth as low as 8°C, with respective generation times 3.0, 3.1, and 3.6 hours. Freezing and thawing of surimi reduced microbial counts to 45–67 of the pre‐frozen load; however, the composition of the microbial flora was maintained. The plant environment was a potential source of microbial contami
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