Raw meat for sausage production can be contaminated with Salmonella. For technical reasons, meat is often frozen
prior to mincing but it is unknown how growth of Salmonella in meat prior to freezing affects its growth potential
during sausage fermentation. We investigated survival of exponential- and stationary-phase Salmonella
Typhimurium (DT12 and DTU292) during freezing at −18 °C and their subsequent growth potential during
72 h sausage fermentation at 25 °C. After 0, 7 and N35 d of frozen storage, sausage batters were prepared with
NaCl (3%) and NaNO2 (0, 100 ppm) and fermented with and without starter culture. With no starter culture,
both strains grew in both growth phases. In general, a functional starter culture abolished S. Typhimurium
growth independent of growth phase and we concluded that ensuring correct fermentation is important for sausage
safety. However, despite efficient fermentation, sporadic growth of exponential-phase cells of S.
Typhimurium was observed drawing attention to the handling and storage of sausage meat