Effects of a Starter Culture on Histamine Reduction, Nitrite Depletion and Oxidative Stability of Fermented Sausages

A starter culture composed of Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus sakei and Staphylococcus xylosus isolated from Chinese‐fermented sausages was used to manufacture fermented sausages. The effects of the starter culture on histamine accumulation, nitrite depletion, lipid oxidation and quality parameters including pH, water activity and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB‐N), as well as the color and texture properties, were evaluated. The histamine accumulations were 0.32 and 8.85 mg/kg in fermented sausages inoculated with the starter culture and by a spontaneous fermentation, respectively. The levels of residual nitrite were 4.32 and 26.72 mg/kg in fermented sausages inoculated with the starter culture and by a spontaneous fermentation, respectively. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances test values reached up to 2.64 and 13.92 mg MDA/kg in fermented sausages inoculated with the starter culture and by a spontaneous fermentation, respectively. Additionally, the fermented sausages inoculated with the starter culture showed a stronger acidification and lower (P < 0.05) level of the TVB‐N than that of spontaneous fermentation. The starter culture made a great contribution to histamine reduction, nitrite depletion and oxidative stability in fermented sausages and was beneficial to improving hygienic quality and food safety of fermented sausages. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: High levels of histamine, residual nitrite and lipid oxidation have been described in fermented sausages, which are major problems for public health and food safety. Thus, it is worthwhile to select favorable conditions to strict control histamine accumulation, residual nitrite content and lipid oxidation in fermented sausages. In this study, to meet the requirements of high‐quality safe products, a starter culture composed of Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus sakei and Staphylococcus xylosus isolated from Chinese‐fermented sausages was used to manufacture fermented sausages. The effects of the starter culture on histamine accumulation, nitrite depletion, lipid oxidation and quality parameters including pH, water activity and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB‐N), as well as the color and texture properties, were evaluated. These results indicate that addition of the starter culture was beneficial for histamine reduction, nitrite depletion and oxidative stability. Additionally, the batch inoculated with the starter culture showed a stronger acidification and lower level of TVB‐N than that of the control. In conclusion, the starter culture contributes to histamine reduction, nitrite depletion and oxidative stability of traditional fermented sausages.