Comparison of the effects of a commercial and an autochthonous Pediococcus acidilactici and Staphylococcus vitulus starter culture on the sensory and safety properties of a traditional Iberian dry‐fermented sausage “salchichón”

Summary The effect of the addition of an autochthonous starter culture and commercial starter culture on the physico‐chemical and sensory characteristics of the dry‐fermented sausage ‘salchichon’ was investigated. Sausages were prepared with a mixture of Pediococcus acidilactici MC184 and Staphylococcus vitulus RS34 as the autochthonous starter culture (P184S34), ripened for 86 days, and compared with a commercial starter batch (CS1). Strains of acid lactic bacteria and Staphylococcus were identified in the samples along the ripening process which demonstrated that the inoculation of sausages assures their implantation during the ripening process. However, P184S34 starter culture showed a higher inhibitory effect on enterobacteria and coliform flora than the CS1 batches, guaranteeing a better quality hygienic sausages. Dry‐fermented sausages ripened with P184S34 showed higher amounts of NPN and volatile compounds derived from amino acid catabolism than the CS1 batches. Especially important was the result found in biogenic amines, since the P184S34 reduced their accumulation compared to the commercial starter batch. The inoculation of a decarboxylase‐negative autochthonous starter culture P184S34 reduced the biogenic amine accumulation guaranteeing safety and homogeneity of the products without producing a negative effect on the sensory characteristics of the traditional fermented sausages.