Effect of Debaryomyces spp. on the proteolysis of dry-fermented sausages

The effect of the addition of Debaryomyces spp. on the microbial, chemical properties and degradation of meat proteins in dry fermented sausages was investigated. The manufacture of dry fermented sausages with Debaryomyces spp. produced a slow decline in pH during early drying stage. However, the final product had lower ammonia, and higher acetic and D-lactic acids without producing any effect on the final pH. Sarcoplasmic proteins were not affected by Debaryomyces spp. but the degradation of myofibrillar proteins was accelerated at the beginning of the drying stage even though the final sausage, inoculated with Debaryomyces spp., had lower myofibrillar proteolysis. The content of free amino acids was similar at the beginning of the drying stage for all the studied batches. However, the high differences in the content of free amino acids at the end of the process could be attributed to the Debaryomyces spp. activity. The addition of a higher amount of Debaryomyces spp. did not contribute to a major proteolysis degree. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.