Inhibition of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ripening dry fermented sausage by ground yellow mustard

Compounds generated by the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates naturally present in mustard powder are potently bactericidal against Escherichia coli O157:H7. Because E. coli O157:H7 can survive the dry fermented sausage manufacturing process, 2, 4, and 6% (wt/wt) nondeheated (hot) mustard powder or 6% (wt/wt) deheated (cold) mustard powder were added to dry sausage batter inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 at about 7 log CFU/g to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of the powders. Reductions in E. coli O157:H7 populations, changes in pH and water activity (aw), effects on starter culture (Pediococcus pentosaceus and Staphylococcus carnosus) populations, and effects of mustard powder on sausage texture (shear) were monitored during ripening. Nondeheated mustard powder at 2, 4, and 6% in dry sausage (0.90 aw) resulted in significant reductions in E. coli O157:H7 (P < 0.05) of 3.4, 4.4, and 6.9 log CFU/g, respectively, within 30 days of drying. During fermentation and drying, mustard powder did not affect P. pentosaceus and S. carnosus activity in any of the treatments. Extension of drying to 36 and 48 days reduced E. coli O157:H7 by >5 log CFU/g in the 4 and 2% mustard powder treatments, respectively. The 6% deheated mustard powder treatment provided the most rapid reductions of E. coli O157:H7 (yielding <0.20 log CFU/g after 24 days) by an unknown mechanism and was the least detrimental (P < 0.05) to sausage texture.