Inhibition of C.perfringens spore germination and out growth during cooling of meat products by the residual oxygen content in the meat has not been reported previously. The initial inhibition of C.perfringens growth described in the “Phoenix effect” has been reported in broth systems (Shoemaker and Pierson,1976). The same phenomenon has been observed during C.perfringens spore germination and out growth in avariety of meat products at various temperatures (Amezquita et al.,2005). Shoemaker and Pierson (1976) reported that this phenomenon was not observed when strict anaerobic conditions and pre-reduced media were used.Kelly et al.(2003) reported“Phoenix-like” phenomenon similar to the effect observed with C.perfringens during the growth ofCampylo-bacter jejuni in cubated at low temperatures. The authors reported that the inhibition was significantly reduced when the oxygen tension was lowered in the system. It is possible that the“Phoenix effect” is partially caused by the presence of oxidative mechanisms, as the ones observed in this study,that result in an inhibition of C.perfringens growth in the initial stages of sample storage.