Frutarom Savory Solutions launches listeria-fighting additive
The German-based company claims its CombiSafe ingredient may help meat processors mitigate the risk of products like salami becoming contaminated with listeria. The ingredient helps prevent listeria by using a lactic acid that produces a bacteriocin – a protein toxin – which in turn helps guard meat against adulteration.
This works by disturbing cell membrane synthesis. Essentially, it builds small pores that lead to the loss of cell content which can destroy listeria, according to the company.
The CombiSafe range is available in four similar variations all designed to help cured meat producers achieve the desired ripening conditions, flavour and colour.
Tried-and-tested
Josefine Petzka, technical specialist in R&D Cultures at Frutarom Savory Solutions, said the new product was a “very promising” addition to the company’s portfolio of functional ingredients. “Our range enables manufacturers to create raw fermented sausage specialities that combine an outstanding sensory profile with product safety,” she added.
The four different variations are all named Bitec Starter B, with the name changing sequentially – i.e. B1, B2, B3 etc.
The CombiSafe range was trialled and tested at Frutarom’s ingredient research and development laboratory in Holdorf, Germany.
In a series of tests, raw salami was inoculated with listeria monocytogenes, so scientists could study how the CombiSafe range helped reduce bacteria build up. Frutarom Savory Solutions has not provided information on the scale of the reduction, stating only that it was “significant”.
Frutarom Savory Solutions is a subsidiary of Frutarom, a company which describes itself as one of the top 10 ingredient and flavour manufacturers in the world. The company sells a 43,000-strong range of products to customers in over 150 countries.
