A note on the microbial spoilage of undercooked chub‐packed luncheon meat

Abstract
Contrary to expectations slight undercooking (68.5°C instead of 70°C for 90 min) dramatically increased the shelf‐life of chub‐packed luncheon meat stored at 25°C. The pH of undercooked chubs fell rapidly to below 5.0 as a result of the growth of enterococci. The accumulated acid prevented the growth of Bacillus spores and gave the luncheon meat a not unpleasant tangy flavour. Degradative changes associated with the spoilage of commercially cooked chub‐packed luncheon meat did not occur, even after 42 d storage. Apparently, post‐cooking fermentation by enterococci can effectively convert a perishable product into a ‘shelf stable’ one by lowering the pH below 5.0.