Reduction of Sodium Nitrite and Sodium Chloride in a Cured Meat Product by Using Acid Development to Inhibit Botulinal Toxin Formation

Pediococcus acidilactici as a lactic acid producer, and sucrose were added to breakfast strip products in order to reduce added levels of sodium nitrite and sodium chloride and yet limit the growth of Clostridium botulinum and inhibit toxin production. Sucrose at 0.4 or 0.9% with P. acidilactici at 1.0 x 108 cells/g were added during preparation of breakfast strip products prepared with combinations of 40 or 80 ppm sodium nitrite and 1.0 or 2.0% sodium chloride. Other ingredients were added at levels normally used in cured meat products. C. botulinum types A and B at 1,000 spores/g were inoculated during product preparation. The finished products were sliced, vacuum packed, double bagged, vacuum sealed again, and incubated at 27 C. Samples were analyzed before incubation and every week for 4 weeks for anaerobic plate counts, pH, residual nitrite, Most Probable Number counts, and botulinal toxin. The results revealed that 0.9% sucrose increased the acid production, thus inhibiting the botulinal growth and toxin formation in the products. Lactic acid bacteria and sucrose at 0.4% did not produce enough acid to inhibit toxin formation. Sodium nitrite at 40 ppm and sodium chloride at 1.0% permitted increased growth rate and toxin development of C. botulinum. Addition of 0.9% sucrose and P. acidilactici was necessary to provide antibotulinal properties to breakfast strip products prepared with 40 ppm sodium nitrite and 1.0% sodium chloride