Volatile compounds produced in smoked bacon inoculated with potential spoilage bacteria

Abstract BACKGROUND Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced during meat storage are mainly derived from the decomposition of meat components and the metabolism of spoilage bacteria. VOCs produced in sterile bacon model substrate inoculated or un‐inoculated with spoilage bacteria, Staphylococcus xylosus (P2), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (P6), Carnobacterium maltaromaticum (P9), Leuconostoc gelidum (P16) and Serratia liquefaciens (P20), previously isolated, were identified by headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Furthermore, combinations of the strains (Pm) were also obtained. RESULTS In total, 54 volatile compounds, including aldehydes, alcohols, phenols, ketones, alkanes, alkanes, organic acids, esters and so forth, were determined after 45 days of storage in bacon inoculated with potential spoilage bacteria using the HS‐SPME/GC–MS method. VOC concentrations of alcohols and organic acids in groups inoculated with bacteria were remarkably higher ( P < 0.05) compared to that in control samples. Specifically, some VOCs are closely related to the metabolic activity of the inoculated bacterial strains; for example, 2,3‐butanediol was associated with P2, P16 and P20, and acetic acid was mainly related to P6 and P9. CONCLUSION The results of partial least squares regression indicated that there was a high correlation between the electronic nose sensors and VOCs of smoked inoculated potential spoilage bacteria. These compounds are potentially important for predicting deterioration of smoked bacon. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.