Inhibition of Salmonella by Sodium Nitrite and Potassium Sorbate in Frankfurters

All beef frankfurters and beef-pork frankfurters containing various levels of sodium nitrite (0, 50, or 156 ppm) or potassium sorbate (0, 0.26, or 0.39%) alone or in combination (50 ppm nitrite + 0.26% sorbate) were prepared. Frankfurters were inoculated with nalidixic acid resistant Salmonella and incubated at 15°C and 27°C for up to 21 days. Frankfurters formulated with 50 or 156 ppm nitrite and incubated at 27°C, or 50 ppm nitrite and incubated at 15°C failed to inhibit the growth of Salmonella. Sorbate alone and sorbate in combination with 50 ppm nitrite were equally effective in inhibiting Salmonella at either temperature and were equivalent to 156 ppm nitrite in inhibiting Salmonella at 15°C.