Microbial and Physicochemical Characterization of the Horse Meat in Fermented Sausage

In this study, 150 lactic acid bacterial strains, originating from horse meat, were subjected to a step-by-step screening and characterization to search for potential protective cultures to be used in the meat industry. Strains were first tested for their homofermentation and salt tolerance. Second, the antibacterial capacities towards Listeria monocytogenes were determined in an agar spot test. In total, 50% of the tested strains were inhibitory towards Listeria monocytogenes. However, only 12 strains produced a bacteriocin. Finally, three strains with strong bacteriocin activity were competitively evaluated by comparing their growth rate, acidifying character and lactic acid production at 15°C under anaerobic conditions in a liquid broth. All three strains had a fast growth rate with rapid acidification caused by the production of high levels of lactic acid. Based on this Lactobacillus sakei was used as starter culture for producing sausage horse meat. In this study, fermentations were followed analyzing the microbiological and physicochemical aspects of this product. The sausages were characterized based on microbial activity of lactic acid bacteria that resulted in a product with a final pH of about 4.56. No Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp. nor Sulfite reducing clostridia were ever isolated from the raw materials or the fermented sausages during the maturation, reflecting the safety of this product. The final water activity of the product was 0.85. Lactobacillus sakei was efficient in reducing amine production since this strain caused a quick pH drop during sausage fermentation.