| Summary: | In this study, by comparing the four groups of sausages, namely, CO (without starter culture), LB (with <i>Lactobacillus sakei</i>), LS (with <i>L. sakei</i> 3X-2B + <i>Staphylococcus xylosus</i> SZ-8), and LSS (with <i>L. sakei</i> 3X-2B + <i>S. xylosus</i> SZ-8 + <i>S. carnosus</i> SZ-2), the effects of mixed starter cultures on physical–chemical quality, proteolysis, and biogenic amines (BAs) during fermentation and ripening were investigated. Inoculation of the mixed starter cultures increased the number of lactic acid bacteria and staphylococci in sausages during fermentation and ripening for 0 to 5 days. The <i>L. sakei</i> 3X-2B + <i>S. xylosus</i> SZ-8 + <i>S. carnosus</i> SZ-2 mixed starter accelerated the rate of acid production and water activity reduction of sausages and improved the redness value. Compared with CO, the mixed starter effectively inhibited <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i>. At the end of ripening, the LSS group was approximately 1.25 CFU/g, which was less than the CO group, thereby reducing the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) in the LSS group. The free amino acids in the LS and LSS groups (224.97 and 235.53 mg/kg dry sausage, respectively) were significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) higher than that in the CO group (170.93 mg/kg dry sausage). The level of histamine, cadaverine, putrescine, and common BAs showed an opposite trend to the increase of the corresponding precursor amino acid content, which were significantly lower (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in the LS and LSS sausages than in CO. This study showed that L. sakei 3X-2B + S. xylosus SZ-8 + S. carnosus SZ-2 is a potential mixed starter for fermented meat products.
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