During fermentation and ripening, LAB
convert glucose (their primary energy source)
to lactic acid, which is the main component
responsible for the pH decrease. This acidifi
cation has a preservative effect, due to inhibi
tion of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria with
little resistance to low pH, and it contributes
to the development of the typical organolep
tic characteristics of the fermented sausages
(Bover - Cid et al. 2001 ). Although it is well
established that fermentable carbohydrates
have an infl uence on fl avor, texture, and yield
of fermented sausages, carbohydrates for use
in dry sausages formulations are generally
chosen to ensure an adequate initial drop in
meat pH (Bacus 1984 ; L ü cke 1985 ) for pres
ervation reasons, and less importance is
given to the product texture. The level of
acidification and the selection of the starter
culture to be used depend on the desired sen
sorial properties of the product. In northern
European sausage technologies, more acid
products are preferred, obtained by adding
Lactobacillus starter cultures and more car
bohydrates to the sausage matrix (0.6% –
0.8%). On the other hand, less acidic products
are obtained using a lower concentration of
glucose and also by using Staphylococcus
starter cultures, as occurs in typical southern
European fermented sausages. In these last
products, which are characterized by a longer
ripening period (up to 60 days), an increase
of pH occurs in the later stages of fermenta
tion, related to ammonia release from ATP
and amino acid metabolisms.