Factors affecting the production of hydrogen sulphide by <i>Lactobacillus sake</i> L13 growing on vacuum‐packaged beef

Abstract

Lactobacillus sake L13 produced hydrogen sulphide during growth at 0°C on vacuum‐packaged beef of normal pH (5·6–5·8) when the packaging films used had oxygen permeabilities as high as 200 ml/m 2 /24 h/atm (measured at 25°C and 98% relative humidity. No hydrogen sulphide was detected when the film permeability was 300 ml/m 2 /24 h/atm. Sulphmyoglobin was formed whenever hydrogen sulphide was present except when the film permeability was very low (1 ml of oxygen/m 2 /24 h/atm). Lactobacillus sake L13 also produced hydrogen sulphide when grown on beef under anaerobic conditions at 5°C. When meat pH was high (6·4–6·6) hydrogen sulphide was first detected after incubation for 9 d. When 250 μg of glucose was added to each g of high pH meat, or when meat pH was normal (5·6–5·8), hydrogen sulphide was first detected after incubation for 18 d. The spoilage of beef by hydrogen sulphide‐producing lactobacilli is more rapid when the pH of the meat is high because high‐pH meat contains less glucose. Sulphmyoglobin formation and greening can be prevented by the use of packaging films of very low oxygen permeability.