The Effect of Commonly Used Organic Acids on the Microbiota of Cured Deli-Style Turkey Breast

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the microbial community structure consisting of spoilage lactic acid bacteria (LAB) when sodium lactate (SL) and SL + sodium diacetate (SD) are included in RTE meat product formulations at concentrations commonly used for controlling Listeria monocytogenes. Sliced cooked, vacuum-packaged turkey breast samples containing no SD or SL (control [C]), 0.125% SD, and the combination of 2.5% SL + 0.125%SD (SLSD) were inoculated with a target of 3 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g of 5 different LAB species (Lactobacillus sakei, Leuconostoc mesenteroides [bacon and deli-shaved ham isolates], Lactococcus lactis, and Enterococcus faecium) and stored at 4°C for 35 d. Microbial community changes were analyzed utilizing 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing for the V4 region from the samples collected at days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 35. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed between the richness of microbial community for all treatments. According to Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix and permutational analysis of variance, a significant difference in β-diversity was observed only between C and SLSD (P<0.05) because of the antimicrobial effect of the addition of SL that slowed down changes in microbial community composition until day 14. L. sakei remained a dominant strain throughout 35 d of storage regardless of treatment, whereas L. mesenteroides existed with a very low abundance. Two of the five strains were not seen after day 7. No significant effect (P>0.05) was observed for the SD treatment compared with C in the microbiota. According to the results from this study, only SLSD affected the microbial community structure at the beginning of the storage. This study demonstrated that the incorporation of SL in the formulation slowed down the microbial spoilage and the changes in the microbiota of RTE meat products.