- Dec 22, 2015
- 18
- 10
Okay I have a series of questions related to Brine (salt) / Sweet (sugar added) Pickle Cure formulation and process specifically to whole fresh bone-in hams, so I wanted to start this with what seems a rather simple / straight forward question: “What is the cure meant to cure?”
The National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) has a web page entitled; “Curing and Smoking Meats for Home Food Preservation,”
https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/nchfp/lit_rev/cure_smoke_pres.html
with reference to USDA Publications specifically USDA Ham and Food Safety for purposes of this discussion.
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/ham-and-food-safety/CT_Index
In “Curing Solutions” this document states; Nitrite and salt inhibit the growth of Clostridium botulinum a deadly microorganism which can occur in foods under certain situations.
In “Smoking and Smoke Flavoring” this document states; “Smoking . . . slows the development of rancidity” (however “rancidity” alone typically is not likely to produce immediate illness or harm).
In “Foodborne Pathogens” this document states; “The food borne pathogens that can be found in pork are Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes” . . . “all destroyed by proper handling and cooking to an internal temperature of 160oF”. It goes on to state; the following pathogens are associated with ham: Trichinella spiralis (trichinae), Staphylococcus aureus (staph), and Mold, noting specifically that “dry curing may or may not destroy S. aureus” implying but not specifically stating that; “high exterior salt content” is the preventative element (inhibiting bacterial growth) but no mention is made or extended to brine cured meats. It also mentions molds producing mycotoxins, but without specifically stating so dry cure is implied wherein it states; “molds grow on hams during the long curing and drying process”
According to Wikipedia “C. botulinum is only able to produce the neurotoxin during sporulation, which can only happen in an anaerobic environment.” Anaerobic (appears to mean without oxygen) and one would assume therefore, that the whole point with regard to ham, is that the application of smoke could produce an anaerobic environment wherein the botulism toxin could grow.
All that for this one question - Is the sole food safety function of cure (salt with added nitrate or nitrite compounds) to prevent Clostridium botulinum?
The National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) has a web page entitled; “Curing and Smoking Meats for Home Food Preservation,”
https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/nchfp/lit_rev/cure_smoke_pres.html
with reference to USDA Publications specifically USDA Ham and Food Safety for purposes of this discussion.
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/ham-and-food-safety/CT_Index
In “Curing Solutions” this document states; Nitrite and salt inhibit the growth of Clostridium botulinum a deadly microorganism which can occur in foods under certain situations.
In “Smoking and Smoke Flavoring” this document states; “Smoking . . . slows the development of rancidity” (however “rancidity” alone typically is not likely to produce immediate illness or harm).
In “Foodborne Pathogens” this document states; “The food borne pathogens that can be found in pork are Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes” . . . “all destroyed by proper handling and cooking to an internal temperature of 160oF”. It goes on to state; the following pathogens are associated with ham: Trichinella spiralis (trichinae), Staphylococcus aureus (staph), and Mold, noting specifically that “dry curing may or may not destroy S. aureus” implying but not specifically stating that; “high exterior salt content” is the preventative element (inhibiting bacterial growth) but no mention is made or extended to brine cured meats. It also mentions molds producing mycotoxins, but without specifically stating so dry cure is implied wherein it states; “molds grow on hams during the long curing and drying process”
According to Wikipedia “C. botulinum is only able to produce the neurotoxin during sporulation, which can only happen in an anaerobic environment.” Anaerobic (appears to mean without oxygen) and one would assume therefore, that the whole point with regard to ham, is that the application of smoke could produce an anaerobic environment wherein the botulism toxin could grow.
All that for this one question - Is the sole food safety function of cure (salt with added nitrate or nitrite compounds) to prevent Clostridium botulinum?