Starter culture combinations compared in this study did not
produce diFFerences in average sausage moisture, protein,
fat, pH and titratable acidity or total NPN contents for pre fermentation mix aging times of 0–72 h.
Fermentation of mixes over all holding periods resulted in an increase in compositional components due to slight moisture loss.
Sausage mixes inoculated and fermented with P. acidilactici
combined with S. carnosus had higher concentration
increase in NPN (?NPN) and total amino acids as compared
to mixes without S. carnosus or with S. xylosus.
Furthermore,S. carnosus incorporation in sausage mixes generated higher free alanine, as compared to P. acidilactici alone or with S. xylosus, and valine as compared to P. acidilactici alone.
The free and total amino acid increases indicate that S. carnosus may contribute to slightly greater enzymatic degradation of protein when included in a starter culture inoculum in fermented sausage manufacturing.