A study was done to determine if a four-strain mixture of multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium definitive type 104 (DT104) cells and a four-strain mixture of S. typhimurium non-DT104 cells differed in ability to survive in whole egg powder, whole egg powder supplemented with corn syrup solids (38%) and salt (1.9%), egg yolk powder, and egg white powder as affected by a(w) (0.29-0.37 and 0.51-0.61) during storage at 13 or 37 degrees C for 8 weeks. Rates of inactivation of S. typhimurium DT104 and non-DT104 cells were similar within each set of test parameters. With the exception of whole egg powder supplemented with corn syrup solids and salt, death was enhanced at a(w) 0.29-0.37 compared to a(w) 0.51-0.61 when powders were stored at 13 degrees C. Survival of cells in whole egg powder supplemented with corn syrup solids and salt was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) higher compared to survival in other egg powders stored at 13 degrees C. The opposite trend occurred in powders at a(w) 0.51-0.61 stored at 37 degrees C. Survival of S. typhimurium DT104 and non-DT104 cells at initial populations of 5.01-5.39 log(10) cfu/g of egg white powder containing 4.9, 6.1, or 8.2% moisture at 54 or 82 degrees C for 7 days or 8 h: respectively, was determined. Rates of inactivation of DT104 and non-DT104 cells did not differ. Both cell types were detected in egg white powder containing 4.9% moisture but not in powder containing 8.2% moisture when held at 54 degrees C for 7 days. Heating at 82 degrees C for 8 h failed to eliminate 5 log(10) S. typhimurium per g of egg white powder, regardless of the moisture content. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.