In this study, the effects of the starter culture Lactobacillus sakei on microbial quality and the bacterial community diversity of chili sauce were investigated. In starter culture inoculated chili sauce (CPN sample), Lactobacillus spp. was predominant bacteria with 86.08% of the relative abundance on the 30 th day of fermentation. Meanwhile, the spoilage organisms and pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus spp., Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Neorhizobium spp. were nearly undetectable in starter culture inoculated chili sauce. In contrast, Lactobacillus spp. and Weissella spp. were predominant bacteria, and trace Pseudomonas spp. and Neorhizobium spp. were still detectable at the end of fermentation in the spontaneous fermentation (CPS sample). These results revealed that L. sakei could be used as a potential starter culture for the microbial quality improvement.

The efficacy of sodium lactate combined with Natamycin against discoloration and spoilage of beef stored at 4 °C was evaluated. The beef was treated with 3 g/L sodium lactate combined with 3 g/L Natamycin, and 3 g/L sodium lactate treatment and 3 g/L Natamycin treatment were performed as control. The spoilage of beef samples was monitored by pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), discoloration, sensory analysis and microbial quality. Sodium lactate exhibited a remarkable efficacy against discoloration together with antibacterial efficacy against spoilage. Natamycin has no contribution to delaying discoloration but displayed a remarkable antibacterial efficacy. These results revealed that sodium lactate combined with Natamycin was more conducive to hygiene levels improvement. In the sample treated by sodium lactate combined with Natamycin, Lactobacillus spp. and Weissella spp. sharply displaced the Ralstoni spp. with high potential spoilage and became the predominant bacteria, and the proliferation of Serratia spp. as the representatives' genus of psychrotrophic Enterobacteriaceae were completely controlled. As a result, the acceptable shelf life of beef treated by sodium combined with Natamycin reached 7 days. While the acceptable shelf life of beef treated by sodium lactate and Natamycin was 6 and 4, respectively.

Fresh beef longissimus lumborum muscle was supplied from a local abattoirs located in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, within 12 h after slaughter. Then the fresh beef was divided

Fresh beef was obtained from a commercial processing facility located in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, within 2 h after slaughter, which demonstrated normal color and firmness, and had similar marbling scores with Slight 90. Then the fresh beef was immediately kept in an insulation ice box and transported