Total solids expressed as g/100g; \* Expresed as g/100g of TS.; § Expressed as g of lactic acid/100g of TS. CNT: Non-inoculated control batches; EQU: Batches inoculated with *L. sakei* + *S. equorum*; SAP: Batches inoculated with *L. sakei* + *S. saprophyticus*. a–g Means in the same row and sausage group (CNT, EQU or SAP) not followed by a common letter differ significantly (*p* < 0.05) (differences associated to the ripening time). 1–3 Means in the same row and ripening time not followed by a common number differ significantly (*p* < 0.05) (differences associated to the use of starter cultures). SEM: standard error of the mean.

**Table 2.** Evolution of the colour parameters along the manufacturing process of Galician chorizo made without and with starter cultures (means of three replicates in each sausage group).

