ABSTRACTClostridium perfringensgrowth from a spore inoculum was investigated in vacuum‐packaged, cook‐in‐bag ground beef that included 0.3% (w/w) sodium pyrophosphate, pH 5.5 or 7.0, and salt (sodium chloride) at 0 or 3% (w/w). The packages were processed to an internal temperature of 71.1C, ice chilled and stored at various temperatures. The total C. perfringens population was determined by plating diluted samples on tryptose‐sulfite‐cycloserine agar followed by anaerobic incubation for 48 h at 37C. At 28C, a combination of 3% salt and pH 5.5 was effective in delaying growth for 24 h. At 15C, growth occurred within 6 days in samples with pH 7.0, but was delayed until day 8 in the presence of 3% salt at pH 7.0. Vegetative cells were not observed even after 21 days 21 of storage at 15C in the presence 3% salt at pH 5.5. C. perfringensgrowth was not observed at 4C regardless of pH or salt levels. The D‐values ranged from 23.33 min (3% salt, pH 7.0) to 13.99 min (3% salt, pH 5.5). Cyclic and static temperature abuse of refrigerated products for 12–15 h did not permitC. perfringensgrowth. However, temperature abuse of cook‐in‐bag beef products for periods longer than 15 h in the absence of salt led to growth ofC. perfringensfrom