There was a
significant (Pb0.05) effect of treatment on a* values (Table 6), but
only on day 1 and day 42. At day 42, the control (C) treatment had
significantly (Pb0.05) higher a* values than either the SC or PC
treatments, which were not different from each other. This suggests
that the control (C) treatment had a more intense cured color at the
end of the 42 day storage period than other treatments. The higher a*
values is likely due to the higher concentration of ingoing nitrite in the
control treatment. In the case of the SC treatment, the amount of
nitrite produced from nitrate is dependent on the nitrate reducing
activity of the starter culture. Terns et al. (2011) reported that the
incubation conditions for products made with VJP was more
important for development of redness than the amount of starter
culture used. In the present study, conversion of nitrate to nitrite did
not appear to be related to the staphylococcus counts of the brines
during incubation (Table 2) which supports the observation of Terns
et al. (2011).