In the previous studies, kimchi (a common term of Korean traditional
foods produced with vegetables by LAB fermentation) microorganisms
were investigated for their potential utility as a substitute for starter
culture for fermented sausages (Lee & Kunz, 2005, 2006). The LAB
integrated via the addition of kimchi into meat mixture indicated the
potential utility to be substituted for starter culture by showing good
adaptation to the new habitat of fermented sausage condition, reaching
maximum numbers of 8.65–8.80 log cfu/g after 1–2 days of fermenta-
tion (Park & Lee, 2012). Lee, Kim, and Kunz (2006) isolated the majority
of LAB from kimchi during its fermentation and then they were identi-
fied as Lactobacillus brevis KGR 3111, Lactobacillus curvatus KGR 2103,
Lactobacillus plantarum KGR 5105, and Lactobacillus sakei KGR 4108.
These LAB were then investigated for their suitable properties, such as
adaptability, growth as well as acidity profile, for use as starter culture
in fermented sausage conditions. Among the tested LAB, L. curvatus,
L. plantarum, and L. sakei showed relatively good potential to be used
as starter culture in sausage production by showing good growth as
well as souring properties.
In this study, L. brevis KGR 3111, L. curvatus KGR 2103, L. plantarum
KGR 5105, and L. sakei KGR 4108 isolated from kimchi were investigated
for their potential to be used as starter culture of fermented sausages
by having the capability to reduce nitrate and nitrite. Nitrite and the
released product such as NO are well known as the agents that inter-
fere with the bacterial growth because of its mutagenic effects. Ni-
trous acids remove amino acids of DNA bases such as adenine,
guanine and cytosine, causing their false match and replication.
Therefore, one of the desirable characteristics of a starter used in
the sausage production is the tolerance to the presence of at least
100 mg/kg of sodium nitrite (Roca & Incze, 1990). Accordingly, the
selected strains were evaluated for their reduction and tolerate of ni-
trate and nitrite in fermented sausage condition. For this study,
model media designed as like the fermented sausage and added
with potassium nitrate or sodium nitrite were used to exclude the in-
fluence of other contaminants.