Contribution of enterococci to the volatile profile of slightly-fermented sausages

The volatile profiles of slightly-fermented sausages inoculated with eight different enterococci strains were determined and compared with a fermented sausage manufactured without any inoculation. The volatile profile was determined by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A total of 121 volatile and semi-volatile compounds were identified in the samples of the final products (day 21). Terpenes from spices added during manufacture of dry-fermented sausages were the main group of compounds in the volatile profile. Other groups included alcohols (18% of total volatile compounds), aldehydes (16%), alkanes and alkenes (12%), and ketones (10%). These are derived from lipids, proteins or carbohydrates and formed during fermentation and ripening. In terms of global volatile composition, the batches inoculated with enterococci strains were similar to those obtained for non-inoculated batch. However, some quantitative differences in the volatile profiles of different batches were found, mainly in the compounds formed from amino acid catabolism (i.e.: propanol, isoamyl), from free fatty acid oxidation (i.e.: hexanal, hexanol), or from carbohydrate fermentation (i.e.: 2-butanone, acetoin). In comparison with non-inoculated sausages, some batches were more resistant to oxidation; they contained fewer volatile compounds arising from lipid oxidation. The use of different selected enterococci strains did not alter the volatile profile of slightly-fermented sausages. The enterococci strains provide similar volatile compounds to those usually reported in the literature.