Fermented sausages are produced as a result of the lactic fermentation of a mixture of comminuted meat mixed with fat, salt, curing agents (nitrate/nitrite), sugar and spices and these represent traditional foods of central and southern Europe. Lucke (1998) estmates that the European Union produced 750 000 tonnes of sausage in 1995. These sausages are generally classified as dry or semi-dry. Dry sausages have a water activity (a ) of less than 0.90, are not usually smoked or heat processed and are eaten without cooking. The aw of semi-dry sausages is in the range 0.90–0.95 and they generally receive a heat treatment of 140–1548F (60–688C) during smoking. Fermentation temperatures vary according to the individual product but they are generally less than 728F (228C) for dry and mould-ripened sausages and 72–798F (22–268C) for semi-dry varieties (Lucke, 1998). Sausages produced without added starter have a final pH of 4.6–5.0, while those produced using starter generally have a final pH of 4.0–4.5. The predominant species during lactic fer mentation of sausages are psychrotrophic Lb. sake