Bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria for the biopreservation of meat and meat products.

The consumer demands for less preserved foods and the development of new food systems to fulfil these demands, urges new hurdles for pathogen growth. The strategies for pathogen reduction are not selective for pathogenic microorganism and therefore the non-spoilage microorganisms may become also inactivated, from this situation a question of concern about a freer way for pathogen growth is arised. Biopreservation refers to the extended storage life and enhanced safety of foods using their natural or controlled microflora and (or) their antibacterial products. In meats, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) constitute a part of the initial microflora which develops easily after meat is processed. LAB growth in meat can cause microbial interference to spoilage and pathogenic bacteria through several mechanisms, specially bacteriocins. The paper deals with the description of meat-borne bacteriocins and their application in meat and meat products either to extend the shelf life or to inhibit meat pathogens. The application of bacteriocinogenic LAB together with new technological hurdles is discussed.