Cézar Vanzin

The use of starter cultures has the purpose of providing sufficient microbial numbers to ensure numerical dominance over the natural contaminating flora. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of starter cultures composed of different combinations of microorganisms and of a non starter bacteriocin producing lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus sake 2a) over the survival of an artificially inoculated Staphylococcus aureus strain and of different groups of microorganisms (total coliforms, Escherichia coli, yeasts and molds, mesophiles, lactic acid bacteria and Staphylococcus spp.), during the curing process and the shelf life of Italian salami. Fourteen formulations of salami were prepared (twice each), employing the following variables: addition or not of 2 or 3 starter cultures in equal parts (FF1 + SL or FF1 + SL + SPX, Chr. Hansen); addition or not of a non starter culture; addition or not of a curing agent composed of nitrite and nitrate. Eight of the formulations were artificially contaminated with S. aureus. Analysis proceeded in the beginning of the manufacturing process (meat), during the curing process (after the 2nd, the 10th and the 20th day) and during the shelf-life of the product (every 10 days, up to the 90th day). It was observed that, in spite of the different kinds of treatments tested, S. aureus was not eliminated during the curing process, remaining viable until the end of the shelf life, or at least during most part of it. Formulations added of L. sake could not be classified as salami, as they did not reach the typical pH of the product, pH that was reached by the other formulations prepared. Addition of curing salts made inhibition of most microorganisms difficult, particularly in the case of S. aureus, except for formulations added of L. sake, for which synergistic effect between the culture and the curing agent was observed, though unsatisfactory to ensure safety of the product. Data obtained was not enough to conclude about differences between effects of addition or not of starter cultures, and its composition, over inhibition of microorganisms. Even though salami is a product which does not provide good microbial growth conditions, when initial contamination of S. aureus, and possibly of other pathogens, is high, it will remain in the product that reaches consumers with high microbial loads.

"Effect of the addition of cultures over the microbial profile and the survival of Staphylococcus aureus in Italian salami" / Efeito da adição de culturas sobre as características microbiológicas e a capacidade de sobrevivência de Staphylococcus aureus em salame tipo italiano

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