Bio-protective cultures, used as mixed cultures of L. sakei subsp.
carnosus/L. sakei þ S. xylosus (1/1 ratio), Lactococcus lactis spp. lactis/
L. sakei þ S. xylosus (1/1 ratio), and L. sakei subsp. carnosus/L.
sakei þ S. xylosus (1/2 ratio), could be employed as bio-protective
cultures for beef hamburger. These cultures inhibited the growth
of Brochothrix thermosphacta, determining an improvement of the
microbial and organoleptic qualities of the meat. Bio-protective
cultures, which inhibited the spoilage bacteria, were able to
reduce the TVB-N to values below 30 mg nitrogen/100 g. The
sensory traits of the hamburgers were positively influenced by the
presence of the bio-protective cultures, as the odours, flavours, and
the sticky white slime, that are indicative of deterioration, were not
observed in the inoculated samples. The bio-protective cultures
evaluated in this study can potentially extend the shelf life up to 12
days and improve the sensory properties of hamburger meat.