Method and bacterial compositions for fermenting meats

Abstract

A method and bacterial compositions are described for producing fermented meat by generating lactic acid using selected cultures of Pediococcus pentosaceus which have unique low temperature meat fermentation characteristics. The preferred Pediococcus pentosaceus is NRRL-B-11,465 which is unusually rapid in lowering the pH at low meat temperatures. A stimulatory, edible metal salt, preferably a manganese salt, is provided in the meat with the Pediococcus pentosaceus to reduce or eliminate preservative inhibition and/or to accelerate growth at meat temperatures between 15.6.degree. C. (60.degree. F.) to 26.7.degree. C. (80.degree. F.). Preservatives to prevent spoilage and rancidity can be used in the meat and can include hydroxyaryl antioxidants, particularly butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and/or butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). BHT and/or BHA together with other meat preservatives, particularly sodium chloride, severely inhibit NRRL-B-11,465 at low meat temperatures between 15.6.degree. C. (60.degree. F.) and 26.7.degree. C. (80.degree. F.). Pediococcus pentosaceus compositions containing the stimulatory metal salt are also described. The method and compositions, particularly with a manganese salt, can produce a pH of less than about 5.0 in less than 30 hours at smokehouse temperatures above about 15.6.degree. C. (60.degree. F.) and at initial meat temperatures of 4.4.degree. C. to 10.degree. C. (40.degree. to 50.degree. F.) with standard casing diameters (up to about 100 mm). Pediococcus pentosaceus NRRL-B-11,465 is particularly adapted for low temperature meat fermentation and rapidly lowers the pH in the meat to about 4.3 under these conditions with sufficient added assimilable carbohydrate. The method is particularly useful for making dry and semi-dry sausage as well as for nitrite reduction in meats due to the lowering of the pH.