Designing healthier comminuted meat products: Effect of dietary fibers on water distribution and texture of a fat-reduced meat model system

Quality Characteristics of Low-salt Chicken Sausage Supplemented with a Winter Mushroom Powder

Chicken meat is a low-fat and high-protein food and consumption of chicken meat has been increasing globally. Various food ingredients are widely added for their specific purpose to processed chicken meat. Nonetheless, concerns about the association between high sodium intake and various diseases as well as negative perceptions of artificial additives are increasing. Therefore, in meat products, it is necessary to reduce the amount of salt and to replace artificial additives with natural ingredients. Our aim was to investigate the quality characteristics of low-salt chicken sausages manufactured with the addition of a winter mushroom powder. Sausages was manufactured with sodium pyrophosphate (0.3%) or winter mushroom powder (0%, 0.5% and 1.0%) to ground chicken breast. As a result of addition of the winter mushroom powder to low-salt chicken sausages, pH of the meat batter increased, and the proportion of jelly and melted fat exuded from sausages was reduced. The texture of sausages was softened and lipid oxidation in sausages was inhibited by the winter mushroom powder. This powder did not negatively affect the color and sensory properties of the sausages. According to the results of this study, the winter mushroom powder can serve as a natural ingredient to improve quality of low-salt chicken sausages.

Ingestion of an Inulin-Enriched Pork Sausage Product Positively Modulates the Gut Microbiome and Metabolome of Healthy Rats

SCOPE

Processed meat intake is associated with a potential increased colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. In contrast, dietary fiber consumption has been found to lower CRC risk, possibly via mechanisms involving the gut microbiota (GM) and its metabolites. This study investigates the effect of inulin enrichment of a common pork sausage product on GM composition and activity in healthy rats.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats are fed a diet based on either an inulin-enriched sausage (n = 12), a corresponding control sausage without enrichment (n = 12), or a standard chow diet (n = 6) during a 4 week intervention. NMR-based metabolomics analyses are conducted on fecal and plasma samples, and GM composition is determined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Pronounced effects of diets on GM composition and activity are found. Rats fed the inulin-enriched sausages have increased levels of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the fecal and plasma metabolome and increased fecal levels of Bifidobacterium spp. as compared to rats fed sausages without enrichment.

CONCLUSION

Inulin enrichment of a meat product resembles general effects seen upon dietary fiber consumption and corroborates that healthier processed meats can be developed through strategic inclusion of dietary fiber ingredients.

An overview of the functionality of inulin in meat and poultry products

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of different aspects of inulin functionality in meat and poultry products.

Design/methodology/approach

Several studies on the physiochemical, textural and sensorial effects of inulin incorporated in meat and poultry products as fat replacer and texture modifier were reviewed.

Findings

Inulin is a plant-derived carbohydrate composed of fructose units and glucosyl moieties at the end of the chain that exhibits unique nutritional and technological benefits. Among its main healthy characteristics, it has been reported to reduce the risk of colon cancer, arteriosclerosis, osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity, to maintain low levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in serum and stimulate the immune system. As a functional food ingredient, it can be used in various foods as a fat replacer, improves water-holding capacity and emulsion stability, as well as modifying the texture and viscosity of foods. Incorporation of inulin into meat and poultry products can be beneficial in producing low-fat products with desirable texture and sensory attributes.

Originality/value

There are limited reviews regarding the application of inulin in meat and poultry products. In this review, chemical composition and physicochemical properties of inulin, its health effects and various effects of inulin incorporation into meat and poultry products including, physicochemical, textural and sensory characteristics of these products are discussed.

Application of winter mushroom powder as an alternative to phosphates in emulsion-type sausages

This research evaluated the utilization of winter mushrooms as a replacement for phosphate in emulsion-type sausages. Winter mushroom powder (WMP) was added to the sausages at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% (w/w), and phosphate was added at 0.3% as a positive control. The WMP additions above 1.0% increased the pH of meat batter and efficiently inhibited the exudation of fat from the sausages (p < 0.05). Lipid oxidation of sausages was inhibited by the addition of WMP (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the addition of phosphate and WMP provided different instrumental texture properties. However, no adverse effects were observed with respect to the color and sensory properties of the sausages containing WMP, except for that containing 2.0% WMP. Therefore, this research indicates that WMP can effectively replace phosphate in meat products, and that the most effective addition level may be 1.0% WMP.

Enhancing the health potential of processed meat: the effect of chitosan or carboxymethyl cellulose enrichment on inherent microstructure, water mobility and oxidation in a meat-based food matrix

The addition of dietary fibers can alleviate the deteriorated textural properties and water binding capacity (WBC) that may occur when the fat content is lowered directly in the formulas of comminuted meat products.