Amino acid histidine, arginine, lysine
and tyrosine concentration decreased at different rates during fermentation as they were converted into their
respective amines. In general, biogenic amines concentration namely histamine, putrescine, cadaverine and
tyramine increased throughout fermentation. However, their concentrations were markedly higher (pb0.05)
in the control (without starter cultures) as compared to the samples treated with starter cultures. Histamine
concentration was reduced by 27.7% and 15.4% by Staphylococcus carnosus FS19 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
FS05, respectively. Both cultures could also reduce other amines during fermentation. After 120 days of
fermentation, the overall biogenic amines concentration was 15.9% and 12.5% less in samples inoculated with
Staphylococcus carnosus FS19 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FS05, respectively, as compared to control
samples. These findings emphasized that application of starter cultures with amines oxidase activity in fish
sauce fermentation was found to be effective in reducing biogenic amines accumulation.