Lactic acid bacteria and their controversial role in fresh meat spoilage

•Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a heterogeneous group that has been widely associated with fresh meat.•LAB can contribute to spoilage through generation of offensive metabolites.•A strain level characterization is necessary to substantiate their spoilage potential.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) constitute a heterogeneous group that has been widely associated with fresh meat and cooked meat products. They represent a controversial cohort of microbial species that either contribute to spoilage through generation of offensive metabolites and the subsequent organoleptic downgrading of meat or serve as bioprotective agents with strains of certain species causing unperceivable or no alterations. Therefore, significant distinction among biotypes is substantiated by studies determining spoilage potential as a strain-specific trait corroborating the need to revisit the concept of spoilage.