EFFECTS OF PROPIONIC-ACID BACTERIA AND BIFIDOBACTERIA ON THE QUALITY OF RAW SMOKED SAUSAGES

Propionic-acid bacteria and bifidobacteria are widely used in food industry. Therefore, it is important to determine their biochemical activity and their aroma producing potential. In this study, the effect of the use of propionibacteria and bifidobacteria as starter cultures on the sensory characteristics of raw smoked sausages has been studied. The sausages were prepared with starter culture consisted of Propionibacterium shermanii KM-186 and Bifidobacterium longum B379M and compared with the sausages with a commercial starter culture Bitec LS-25. The results have shown, that the sausages containing starter culture of propionic-acid and bifidobacteria, obtained better sensory scores, better quality characteristics compared to the sausages made with commercial starter culture. The analysis of volatile compounds has shown, that the addition of starter culture, containing propionic-acid bacteria and bifidobacteria leads to formation of additional compounds, including lactones, phenols, and terpenes. During sensory evaluation, experts noticed the presence of mild creamy note in experimental sample. It can be the result of lactones formation by propionic-acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. In addition, it was shown that the addition of propionic-acid bacteria and bifidobacteria reduces nitrite amount in sausages in several times (11 times approximately compared to commercial starter culture) due to nitroreductase activity of these bacterial strains.