Effect of mechanical curing treatments on particle distribution to simulate non-motile bacteria migration in cured raw ham

In this study, the migration and distribution of Blue Lake particles with various mechanical curing treatments (freeze-thawing, tumble, vacuum and vacuum-tumble) was studied after injection and dry-curing of raw hams to simulate non-motile bacteria. The influence of injection pressure and various mechanical treatments on particle penetration was examined by using image analysis at the beginning and end of curing. The results showed that particles were able to penetrate the muscle after injection. An increase of the injection pressure from 0.5 bar to 0.9 bar resulted in a broader distribution of particles around the injection zone. Moreover, all additional mechanical treatments significantly increased the penetrated area of the particles by up to 64% due to an increase in damaged tissue and an introduction of new penetration pathways. The results provide insights that may be transferable from particles to starter cultures, which can further be applied in cured raw ham manufacture.