Starter culture combinations compared in this study did not
produce diVerences in average sausage moisture, protein,
fat, pH and titratable acidity or total NPN contents for prefermentation
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.