Reduction of Salmonella spp. populations in Italian salami during production process and high pressure processing treatment: Validation of processes to export to the US

This study involved ten enterprises producing Italian salami, 20 different samples of fermented sausages underwent challenge tests to assess and record the following parameters: time, temperature, pH, a(w), and Salmonella counts. A linear regression model was used to describe the Salmonella spp. decay: at the end of the process the result of total Salmonella reduction was 0.97-5.84 Log(10) CFU/g and it was significantly associated with pH at the end of acidification/drying process, a(w) at the end of seasoning period, the duration of seasoning, and the caliber of salami respectively. High Pressure Processing (HPP) further reduced the Salmonella level by 2.41-5.84 Log(10) CFU/g with an efficacy that resulted inversely associated with a(w) of salami at the end of seasoning; the objective of 5-Log reduction was always reached in all the cases tested by the production process plus HPP. This model could be a useful tool for enterprises and Authorities to evaluate the efficacy of the processes to reduce Salmonella load for exportation to the U.S.