Hurdles used for food preservation influence the quality as well as the safety of foods. The effects of hurdles on food
quality can be positive or negative, depending ontheir intensity. Somehurdles (e.g. Maillardreactionproducts)
haveantimicrobial properties and at the same timeimprove the flavor ofthe products; this also applies to nitrite usedin
the curingofmeat. However, somehurdles also providea negative effecton foodquality. For instance, chillingtoan
unsuitably low temperature will bedetrimental tosome foods ofplant origin (‘chillinginjury’), whereas moderate
chillingis beneficial for shelf-life. Another example is the pHof fermented sausages,which should belowenoughto
inhibit pathogenic bacteria but now solow as toimpair taste. If the level of a particular hurdle ina foodis toosmall,it
shouldbestrengthened;if it is detrimental tothe food quality, it shouldbeloweredandanadditional hurdle
considered.