The aim of the research was to estimate the possibility of using mixed bacteria cultures consisting of Lactobacillus fermentum S8 and Staphylococcus carnosus ATCC 51365 in the meat curing process with a reduced amount of sodium nitrite and to study the effect of bacteria on residual nitrites and nitrates, nitrosyl pigments content, colour, pH, redox potential, microbiologic, and the sensory quality of a cooked meat product. The study was performed on heat treated three-model meat treatments in cans: (C) a control treatment with NaNO2 at 100 mg/kg, (M) a treatment with NaNO2 at 50 mg/kg and (SL) a treatment with NaNO2 at 50 mg/kg and L. fermentum S8 at about 107 cfu/g and S. carnosus ATCC 51365 at about of 107 cfu/g. The research was performed after production and after cold storage. It was shown that using a mixed bacteria culture for meat curing had an influence (p < 0.05) on reducing nitrite and nitrate levels and increasing the amount of nitrosyl pigments in the SL treatment compared to the M treatment. Applying mixed bacteria in curing meat with NaNO2 at 50 mg/kg allowed for obtaining a higher redness in the cooked meat product after production, storage and exposure to light than in the product cured with NaNO2 at 100 mg/kg, with similar sensory and microbiological quality in both products.

The aim of the work was to apply the bacteria Staphylococcus carnosus ATCC 51365 in the meat curing process with the use of a reduced amount of sodium nitrite and to evaluate the effects of bacteria on residual nitrites and nitrates, the content of nitrosyl pigments, colour, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, microbiological, and the sensory quality of a cooked meat product. Three meat batters in cans were prepared: (C) a control batter cured with NaNO2—100 mg/kg, (L) a batter cured with NaNO2—15 mg/kg, and (LS) a batter cured with NaNO2—15 mg/kg and S. carnosus (107 CFU/g). The cans were stored at a temperature of 4°C for 24 h (curing time) and cooked. The analysis was carried out after production and after 4 and 8 weeks of storage. The use of denitrifying bacteria in the curing process with a reduced amount of sodium nitrite increased the availability of nitrite in the meat, by reducing nitrates formed as a result of a dismutation reaction. The reaction contributed to the formation of nitrosyl pigments in a larger quantity than in the treatment in which the denitrifying bacteria were not used. The LS treatment was characterized by the greatest redness. The colour of the LS treatment was stable during storage. No negative effect of S. carnosus on the sensory quality of the meat product was found. The use of S. carnosus had no influence on the microbiological quality of meat product during storage.

The effect of marinating pork hams in apple vinegar on the technological, microbiological, and sensory quality was verified. Three variants of pork hams were produced: S1—ham with curing salt, without apple vinegar; S2—ham with curing salt and 5% apple vinegar; S3—ham with salt and 5% apple vinegar. The tests were carried out immediately after production, after 7 and 14 days of storage. The products did not differ significantly in their chemical composition, salt content, fatty acid composition, and water activity (p > 0.05). During storage, a significant increase in the cholesterol content was observed (64.88–72.38 mg/100 g of the product). The lowest levels of nitrites and nitrates were recorded for treatment S3 (<0.10 and 4.73 mg/kg of product, respectively). The samples with the addition of apple vinegar (S2 and S3) were characterized by a lower pH value, higher oxidation-reduction potential, and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). Hams S3 were significantly brighter (L* 68.89) and less red (a* 12.98). All of the tested pork hams were characterized by very good microbiological quality (total number of microorganisms, number of lactic acid bacteria, number of acetic bacteria, number or presence of pathogenic bacteria). Significantly the lowest TVC (total viable counts) was found in the ham S3 (2.29 log CFU/g after 14 days). The S3 hams during storage were characterized by greater juiciness (6.94 c.u.) and overall quality (7.88 c.u.), but a lower intensity of smell and taste than the cured ham (S1). To sum up, it is possible to produce pork hams without the addition of curing salt, using natural apple vinegar as a marinade. Apple vinegar has a positive effect on the storage stability of the products, without losing their sensory properties.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of acid whey on changes in the fatty acid profile, oxidative stability, physico-chemical parameters, and microbiological and sensory quality of traditional organic uncured fermented Polish bacon after production and during chilling storage. Three different treatments of fermented bacon were produced: C—control bacon with a nitrite curing mixture; T—bacon with a nitrate curing mixture; and AW—bacon with acid whey and NaCl. The acid whey used in the production of uncured fermented pork bacon positively changed the sensorial characteristics, directly after the ripening process, and had a positive effect in terms of a decrease in the pH of the product. All of the fermented bacon treatments in general were of good microbiological quality. A higher lactic acid bacteria (LAB) level was observed in the AW treatment after the fermentation process, and the bacteria number did not change during storage, whereas in the C and T treatments, the LAB level increased during storage (p < 0.05). The application of acid whey did not limit the formation of secondary oxidation products (TBARS) during bacon ripening (1.68 mg MDA kg−1), but had a reduced value during storage time (0.73 mg MDA kg−1). The highest polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels, after ripening and after four weeks of refrigerated storage, were found in the C treatment. In the AW treatment, it was found that the PUFA level increased; likewise, the content of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids increased, while saturated fatty acids (SFAs) decreased during storage (p < 0.05). The opposite tendency was observed in the C treatment. After four weeks of storage, the PUFA/SFA ratio was the lowest in the nitrate treatment, and higher values of the PUFA/SFA ratio were obtained in the acid whey and nitrite treatment (p < 0.05).

The research was conducted on the effect of bird broilers fed with different hybrid rye doses on the fatty acids profile in muscle. The first experiment was performed on 3 geese broilers groups fed with hybrid rye, oats or hybrid rye and oats mix in proportion 1:1. No effect of the hybrid rye feeding of geese on the SFA level in meat was observed, but the MUFA level was significantly higher and PUFA level and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio were significantly lower than in geese fed with oats. The second experiment was performed on 3 chicken broiler groups fed with mix of corn, wheat, soybean meal and rapeseed oil (control group), and fed with an addition of 10% or 20% hybrid rye in diet (experimental groups). No effect of hybrid rye feeding of chicken broilers on the meat quality and SFA level was observed. However, the MUFA level was higher and the PUFA level and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio were lower in meat of chicken broilers fed with hybrid rye. In conclusion hybrid rye is a healthy ingredient in the diet of studied birds and may be used up to 20% in chicken broilers and 50% in the diets of geese. A 100% hybrid rye in geese diet caused lower final body weight.