Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)In this study the growth potential (delta) of Listeria monocytogenes in six formulations of probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis) reduced-sodium cottage cheese containing or not NaCl, combined with KCl and/or MgCl2 stored under different temperature conditions was assessed. Reduced-sodium cottage cheeses were inoculated with L. monocytogenes (approximately 10(3) CFU/g) and then stored at 4 degrees C (I), 30% of the shelf life at 4 degrees C and the remaining 70% at 12 degrees C (II) and 12 degrees C (III) for 28 days. A growth potential (delta) above 0.5 log CFU/g indicated that the formulation was capable of supporting the growth of L. monocytogenes. The growth potential (delta) of L. monocytogenes at 4 degrees C (I) was between 0.5 and 0.8 log CFU/g. Higher growth potentials (1.1-1.6 log CFU/g) were observed when the cottage cheeses were stored for 30% of the shelf life at 4 degrees C followed by storage for 70% at 12 degrees C (II). In the scenario III (28 days at 12 degrees C), L monocytogenes was only able to grow in the formulation with 100% NaCl and no probiotics (F1), while in F2-F6 (probiotic formulations with different combinations of NaCl, KCl, MgCl2) the populations of this bacterium were below the quantification level (<1 log CFU/g). Independent of the storage scenarios studied, strict conditions of hygiene during processing and use of raw materials of excellent microbiological quality are key-factors for ensuring the safety of this product as L monocytogenes will be able to grow at low storage temperature. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.81 180187Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) [302763/2014-7]Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [13/20456-9]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)