Effect of thyme and oregano aqueous tea infusions on the microbiological characteristics of sausages

Abstract

In this work the antimicrobial effect of Thymus vulgare and Origanum vulgare aqueous tea infusion on the total mesophilic bacterial count (TVC), psychrotrophic bacteria count (PBC) and enterococci count in the heat treated meat product - sausages were evaluated. To prepare 1 kg of sausage in experimental groups were used 10 cm3 of Thymus vulgare resp. Origanum vulgare aqueous tea infusions. It was found that value of TVC and PBC in the experimental groups of sausages with Thymus vulgare addition after 7 days of storage (4 °C) were 2.78 resp. 2.14 log cfu.g-1 and with the Origanum vulgare addition were 2.49 resp. 1.90 log cfu.g-1. The value of TVC and PBC in the control group of sausage were 3.13 resp. 2.72 log cfu.g-1. During 10 days of storage (4 °C) the TVC and PBC in the sausages with Thymus vulgare addition increase and reached the value 4.81 resp. 3.52 log cfu.g-1. In the sausages with the Origanum vulgare addition TVC and PBC after 10 days of storage reached the value 3.67 resp. 1.60 log cfu.g-1. The value of TVC and PBC in the control group of sausage after 10 days of storage were 6.47 resp. 5.47 log cfu.g-1. Counts of enterococci in control and experimental groups of sausages during 10 days of storage were not detected. Thyme and origanum aqueous tea infusions suppressed the development of TVC and PBC compare to control samples.

Keywords

• thyme
• oregano
• sausages
• bacterial count
• enterococci
• psychrotrophic bacteria enterococci, psychrotrophic bacteria