Study of the Micrococcaceae and Staphylococcaceae throughout the Manufacture of Dry-Cured Lacón (a Spanish Traditional Meat Product) Made without or with Additives

Abstract

Micrococcaceae and Staphylococcaceae were enumerated (on SPC agar + 7.5% NaCl) in samples from the surface and the interior of pieces of dry-cured lacón (a Spanish traditional meat product), at different stages of the manufacturing process, and from six different batches (three made without and three with additives -glucose, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, sodium ascorbate, and sodium citrate-). The use of additives did not affect the counts or evolution of this microbial group.

For four batches (two without and two with additives), a total of 335 strains were isolated and identified by classical methods.

Staphylococcus xylosus was the most abundant and constant species throughout manufacture of the batches made without and with additives. Other species of staphylococci were isolated, including: Staph. equorum, Staph. sciuri, Staph. gallinarum, Staph. cohnii, Staph. intermedius, Staph. capitis, Staph. epidermidis, Staph. simulans and Staph. warneri. Species of Micrococcus or Kocuria isolated in very low proportions, included Kocuria varians, K. rosea, Micrococcus lylae and M. luteus.