Results of the storage tests performed with loaves prepared
with an FP or calcium propionate are shown in Table 3. After
3 days storage at 30 °C, gross spoilage was evident only in the
control loaves, which contained B. subtilis at numbers of about
109 cfu/g. In loaves made with DM-FP, the bacterial count was
still low after 7 days. Using the DM-acid mixture (pH 3.26±0.03)
to make the loaves, the same reduction in ropy spoilage asDM-FP
(PN0.05) was obtained after 3 days, while the efficacy of the
mixture decreased after 7 days. In bread containing the preservative
calcium propionate, an inhibition comparable to that of
DM-FP (PN0.05) was observed after 3 and 7 days. Among the
flour based fermentation products, M3-FP showed the highest
anti-Bacillus activity reducing the bacterial count by about 4 and
3 log cycles after 3 and 7 days, respectively, with respect to control
bread. However, no ropy symptoms were noticeable after 3 days
storage in all loaves made with the flour based FPs, although a
considerable Bacillus count was detected.