ABSTRACTThe shelf life of both refrigerated ground and mechanically deboned poultry meat was extended by 2 days using the resting cells of the starter culturesPediococcus cerevisiae(Accel) andLactobacillus plantarum(Lactacel DS). The microbial population of the treated sample was 10% of that of the control at the onset of “off‐odor” in the control. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) did not decrease the pH of the meat. Fluorescent psychrotrophic colonies were not detected in the treated samples, but were present in the control.P. cerevisiaein Buffered Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BBHI) inhibitedPseudomonas fluorescensandPseudomonas putrefaciensmore thanPseudomonas fragi. L. plantarumin BBHI inhibited the growth ofP. fluorescensand P. fragi and caused P putrefaciens to lose its ability to form colonies on Tryptic Soy Agar. The meat starter cultures in BBHI totally inhibited the growth ofSalmonella typhimuriumandStaphylococcus aureusat 15°C. Using the “spot on the lawn” technique both LAB produced an antagonistic agent only agains