Traditional processing of summer sausage applies lower fermentation pH values (≤4.6) and higher thermal treatments after fermentation to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) performance standards for E. coli O157:H7 lethality (5D process; decimal reduction dose).
High-pressure processing has the ability to aid in the reduction of pathogenic bacteria and is a potential option for dry-cured salami in combination with water activity, salt content, pH and antimicrobials for the satisfaction of the hurdle technology option presented by the Blue Ribbon Task Force.
