The application of irradiation to vacuum-packaged dry fermented
sausages induced significant changes in color, VBN, lipid
oxidation and microbial counts (TPC, coliform and LAB) in a dose
dependent manner. These modifications could have an important
impact on meat quality. In the case that irradiation doses
necessary to control the pathogens in dry fermented sausages
are lower than those used in this study, less changes in color and
lipid oxidation after irradiation than those described in the
present results can be expected. When refrigerated storage is
applied, irradiation of dry fermented sausages at 2 kGy was the
most effective on the survival of LAB with significant reduction in
total plate counts and coliforms at the initial stage of fermentation.
At this dose, sensory quality was maintained with minimal
rancid flavor and off-taste.