Microbial interaction in cooked cured meat products under vacuum or modified atmosphere at 4oC

AIMS: To investigate the antagonistic activity of two lactic acid strains against the spoilage microflora in cooked cured meat products, vacuum or modified atmosphere packed at 4 degrees C and to determine the inhibitory capacity of their bacteriocins. METHODS AND RESULTS: Frankfurter-type sausages and sliced cooked cured pork shoulder were inoculated with Leuconostoc mesenteroides L124 and Lactobacillus curvatus L442 or with their bacteriocins. The microbial, physico-chemical (pH, L- and D-lactate, acetate and ammonia) and colour changes were studied. Results under vacuum packaging showed that in the uninoculated samples of the pork product the spoilage microflora grew but in the inoculated ones the spoilage microorganisms (e.g. Brochothrix thermosphacta and enterococci) reduced during the storage. This observation was more pronounced in the samples with the addition of bacteriocins. In the frankfurter-type sausages the spoilage microflora did not grow in the uninoculated and inoculated samples. In the modified atmosphere enriched in CO2 the population of spoilage microflora remained at low levels in both products, indicating that CO2 has an effect on the spoilage microorganisms' growth. In the pork product the concentrations of acetate and d-lactate increased while L-lactate decreased, but in the frankfurter-type sausages increase of acetate and D-lactate was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Lactic acid strains had an effect on the spoilage microflora growth but did not affect, negatively, the organoleptic properties of the products. These strains may be used as biopreservative cultures or their bacteriocins could be an important contribution to microbiological quality of meat products. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: Establishment of biopreservation as a method for extension of shelf life of meat products.