Selected physicochemical, technological, and hygienic characteristics of artisanal and sausages produced with functional starter culture

Fast acidification is one of the main factors of microbial stability of dry fermented sausages. Development of functional starter cultures for improving safety of sausages without altering their quality is under way. This study compared aspects of physicochemical, technological, hygienic and instrumental quality of sausages produced with or without functional starter culture. Finished sausages with starter had lower water activity and lower levels of enterobacteria and lactic acid bacteria, compared to artisanal ones. During most of the ripening, pH was lower in sausages with starter, but in the final products, the same pH was observed in both groups of sausages. In sausages with starter lower redness was determined than in artisanal sausages, while other parameters, colour and chewiness, did not differ significantly. Use of starter culture improved physicochemical, technological and hygienic characteristics of the final products.