The sensory analysis supported this conclusion. Table 3 shows
that the bio-protective cultures improved the sensory attributes of
the hamburgers. Hamburgers with bio-protective cultures did not
present odours, flavours or sticky white slime that are indicative of
spoilage. In contrast, a sticky white slime was observed in some
hamburgers from lots 1 and 2. In lot 2, this may have been due to
the rapid growth of the bio-protective cultures, as the concentration
of LAB (9 log CFU/g) was significantly higher than in the other
lots (p < 0.05). The panellists preferred the taste of the hamburgers
from lots 3 and 4, which contained bio-protective inoculations of
Lactococcus lactis spp. lactis/L. sakei þ S. xylosus (ratio of 1/1) and L.
sakei subsp. carnosus/L. sakei þ S. xylosus (ratio of 1/2), respectively.
These microorganisms seemed to have improved the sensory
quality of the hamburgers and inhibited the growth of autochthonous
bacteria (Table 1).