The microbial ecology of fermented sausages inoculated with different starter cultures (Pediococcus
pentosaceus+Staphylococcus xylosus, batch A; Lactobacillus farciminis+Staphylococcus saprophyticus,
batch B) was studied by culture-dependent and independent methods. The concentration of biogenic
amines, pH andaw(water activity) were followed. The starter B can inhibit indigenous bacteria effectively
judged by traditional microbiological method and PCR-DGGE fingerprint. There was no statistical differ-ence in pH between batches A and B at 2 days when substantial amounts of BAs were produced, while the
amounts of histamine, putrescine, cadaverine and tyramine in batch B was lower than in batch A signif-icantly (P< 0.001). As a result, the starter cultures which can complete, grow well and inhibit amine-posi-tive bacteria play an important role in reducing the production of BAs during ripening of fermented
sausage.
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