Effect of commercial starter cultures on survival of Yersinia enterocolitica and microbiological status of Sremska sausages

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the survival of Yersinia enterocolitica (biotype 1, serotype O:8), and the microbiological status (lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae), water activity and pH values of Sremska sausage (traditional dry-fermented sausage from Northern Serbia) during ripening (18 days). Four different groups of Sremska sausage were manufactured: CI group – control without starter culture; CII group – control with starter culture; EI group – was inoculated with 10⁸ CFU mL^-1 of Y. enterocolitica ATCC 9610, without starter culture and EII group – was inoculated with 10⁸ CFU mL^-1 of Y. enterocolitica ATCC 9610 and with starter culture. During ripening, microbiological examination was conducted according to ISO methods, on days 0, 3, 7, 12 and 18. In the inoculated sausages, Y. enterocolitica did not grow after day 12 of the ripening period. The results revealed that the use of starter cultures increased the number of lactic acid bacteria, while completely reducing the Enterobacteriaceae count compared with the Sremska sausage without starter culture. Also, the sausages manufactured with starter culture had lower pH values compared to the sausages without starter culture. In conclusion, the use of starter cultures contributes to improving the microbial safety of Sremska sausage.