Effect of fermentation temperature on the microbial and physicochemical properties of silver carp sausages inoculated with Pediococcus pentosaceus

The effect of fermentation with Pediococcus pentosaceus at different temperatures ranging from 15 to 37 degrees C on the quality characteristics of silver carp sausages was investigated. Higher temperature stimulated the rapid growth of lactic acid bacteria, resulting in a rapid decline in pH, and consequently suppressed the growth of Pseudomonas, Micrococcaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. However, increasing fermentation temperature gave a progressive increase in total volatile basic nitrogen and biogenic amines in fermented silver carp sausages. Histamine was the main biogenic amine, exceeding 100 mg/kg after 48 h of fermentation at temperatures above 30 degrees C. Higher content of non-protein nitrogen and alpha-amino nitrogen correlated with the electrophoretic studies, which showed that proteolysis of high molecular weight myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins was more prominent at higher fermentation temperatures. Products fermented at 23-30 degrees C showed greatest consumer preference and most favourable textural properties. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd.