Effect of chitosan and lauric arginate edible coating on bacteriological quality, deterioration criteria, and sensory attributes of frozen stored chicken meat

A methodological review in sensory analyses of chicken meat

The sensory characteristics of poultry products are crucial in defining their quality and widely influence consumer choices. Even though the scientific literature clearly indicates that for muscle foods the sensory profile is relevant in purchase decisions and overall acceptability, sensory evaluation has often been underestimated and considered complementary to instrumental and/or chemical assessments. Sensory analysis includes different types of validated tests (discriminative, descriptive, and affective), applied depending on the purpose of the research study, requiring special attention in the sample preparation phase, in particular for nonhomogeneous products such as poultry meat, requiring reproducible cutting, cooking and presentation to the tasters. The aim of this paper is to review, critically assess and discuss sensory methods, standardized procedures and sample preparation tailored for chicken meat, through the literature from 2000 to 2023, with a section dedicated to ethical aspects that must be carefully considered when designing a sensory protocol. The target readers are both the research and the business communities, as the information can be widely applied for quality control, to develop new food products, to understand or drive preferences or, for example, to assess potential sensory differences among chickens fed with different diets. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this review represents a useful first guide for those approaching the sensory analysis of chicken meat.

Application of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum hydrogel coating in combination with ice temperature for the preservation of fresh yak meat

Fresh yak meat is highly nutritious and prone to spoilage, so developing suitable preservation methods is crucial. In this study, hydrogel coatings composed of konjac glucomannan, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and gallic acid (KGX) were applied to preserve fresh yak meat under ice temperature (-1 °C). After 16 days, KGX group showed lowest total viable count (5.3 ± 0.1 log cfu/g) and total volatile basic nitrogen (13.02 ± 1.40 mg/100 g), which did not exceed the relevant standards of fresh meat. Combined assessments of color, texture, pH, drip loss rate, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances indicated that KGX coating effectively prolonged yak meat preservation. High-throughput sequencing revealed that KGX coating effectively reduced the abundance of Pseudomonas and Candida. The application of L. plantarum hydrogel coatings in conjunction with ice temperature increased the shelf life of fresh yak meat to 16-20 days, suggesting its potential as a viable preservation method for fresh meat.

Enhancing the lipid stability of foods of animal origin using edible packaging systems

Foods of animal origin are prone to oxidation due to their high lipid content and fatty acid profile. Edible packaging systems have evolved as a new way of preserving animal-derived foods and have been reported to retard lipid oxidation using antioxidant molecules from side-streams, waste, and agricultural by-products. Studies have evaluated previously undocumented film materials and novel bioactive molecules as additives for edible packaging for animal-derived foods. However, none of the studies is specifically focused on evaluating the packaging systems available for enhancing lipid stability. This paper thoroughly examines and discusses the application of edible packaging containing novel antioxidant molecules for controlling the lipid oxidation of animal-derived foods. The paper analyses and interprets the main findings of the recently published research papers. The materials and active principles used for enhancing lipid stability have been summarised and the underlying mechanisms discussed in detail. Studies should aim at using cheaper and readily available natural ingredients in future for the production of affordable packaging systems.

Chitosan, chitosan derivatives, and chitosan-based nanocomposites: eco-friendly materials for advanced applications (a review)

For many years, chitosan has been widely regarded as a promising eco-friendly polymer thanks to its renewability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and ease of modification, giving it enormous potential for future development. As a cationic polysaccharide, chitosan exhibits specific physicochemical, biological, and mechanical properties that depend on factors such as its molecular weight and degree of deacetylation. Recently, there has been renewed interest surrounding chitosan derivatives and chitosan-based nanocomposites. This heightened attention is driven by the pursuit of enhancing efficiency and expanding the spectrum of chitosan applications. Chitosan's adaptability and unique properties make it a game-changer, promising significant contributions to industries ranging from healthcare to environmental remediation. This review presents an up-to-date overview of chitosan production sources and extraction methods, focusing on chitosan's physicochemical properties, including molecular weight, degree of deacetylation and solubility, as well as its antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities. In addition, we highlight the advantages of chitosan derivatives and biopolymer modification methods, with recent advances in the preparation of chitosan-based nanocomposites. Finally, the versatile applications of chitosan, whether in its native state, derived or incorporated into nanocomposites in various fields, such as the food industry, agriculture, the cosmetics industry, the pharmaceutical industry, medicine, and wastewater treatment, were discussed.

Nanoparticles of chitosan and oregano essential oil: application as edible coatings on chicken patties

Abstract

The dense nutritional structure of meat predisposes it to microbial spoilage and oxidative changes. Thus, the present study evaluated the antimicrobial and antioxidant effect of the edible coating of nanoparticles of chitosan and oregano essential oil on the quality and shelf-life of chicken patties. Total four types of edible coatings were prepared, viz. T1:0.3% chitosan; T2:0.3% chitosan incorporated with 0.3% v/v oregano essential oil; T3:0.3% chitosan nanoparticles and T4: nanoparticles of 0.3% chitosan incorporated with 0.3% v/v oregano essential oil which were characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometry, particle size analysis and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). The chicken patties were dipped in developed edible coatings and evaluated for quality parameters at five days interval during refrigeration storage (4 ± 1 °C). The results indicated significantly (P < 0.05) improved physicochemical, microbiological, Hunter colour and sensory parameters in treatments than in control. Among the treatments, quality parameters were significantly enhanced in T4 than in other treatments. The results revealed that T3 and T4 had an improved shelf life of about 25 days while T1 and T2 had a shelf life of 15 and 20 days, respectively, but control spoiled on the 10th day of refrigeration storage.

Graphical abstract

Edible coating of nanoparticles of chitosan alone (T3) as well as chitosan incorporated with incorporated with oregano essential (T4) oil were prepared and characterized by HR-TEM and UV-Vis Spectrophotometry. UV-Vis Spectrophotometry revealed that T3 and T4 had the absorption maximum of 209 nm and 276 nm, respectively. HR-TEM revealed that (T4) had a spherical shape, with average size ranging from 100 to 200 nm while (T3) had a smaller size ranging from 80 to 100 nm, with a rough surface having a dense structure. Upon coating of chicken patties with edible coatings, a significant improvement was observed in the quality and shelf-life of chicken patties than control during refrigeration storage (4±1 °C).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05804-1.

Edible packaging systems for improved microbial quality of animal-derived foods and the role of emerging technologies

Animal-derived foods are susceptible to microbial spoilage due to their superior nutritional composition and high moisture content. Among the various options, edible packaging is a relatively nascent area and can effectively control microbial growth without substantially affecting the sensory and techno-functional properties. Numerous studies have evaluated the effect of edible packaging systems on the microbial quality of animal-derived foods, however, a review that specifically covers the effect of edible packaging on animal foods and summarizes the findings of these studies is missing in the literature. To fill this gap, the present review analyses the findings of the studies on animal foods published during the last five years. Studies have reported edible-packaging systems for improving microbial stability of animal foods using different biopolymers (proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and their derivatives) and bioactive ingredients (phytochemicals, peptides, plant extracts, essential oils, and their nanoparticles, nanoemulsions or coarse emulsions). In general, nanoparticles and nanoemulsions are more effective in controlling microbial spoilage in animal foods compared to the direct addition of bioactive agents to the film matrices. Studies have reported the use of non-thermal and emerging technologies in combination with edible packaging systems for improved food safety or their use for enhancing functionality, bioactivity and characteristics of the packaging systems. Future studies should focus on developing sustainable packaging systems using widely available biopolymers and bioactive ingredients and should also consider the economic feasibility at the commercial scale.

Edible packaging systems for enhancing the sensory quality of animal-derived foods

Maintaining the sensory quality of animal-derived foods from paddock to plate is a big challenge due to their fatty acid profile and susceptibility to oxidative changes and microbial spoilage. Preventive measures are taken by manufacturers and retailers to offset the adverse effects of storage to present animal foods to consumers with their best sensory attributes. The use of edible packaging systems is one of the emerging strategies that has recently attracted the attention of researchers and food processors. However, a review that specifically covers the edible packaging systems focused on improving the sensory quality of animal-derived foods is missing in the literature. Therefore, the objective of this review is to discuss in detail various edible packaging systems currently available and their mechanisms for enhancing the sensory properties of animal-derived foods. The review includes the findings of recent papers published during the last 5 years and summarises the novel materials and bioactive agents.

The effects of novel alginate-lauric arginate coatings with temperature on bacterial quality, oxidative stability, and organoleptic characteristics of frozen stored chicken drumsticks

Although alginate has been reported to be used as an edible film and coating in food, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the individual effects of coatings, temperatures, storage times, as well as their interactions, on the bacterial quality, deterioration criteria, and sensory attributes of chicken drumsticks. To accomplish this, six groups of chicken drumsticks were treated with different coatings, temperatures, and storage conditions. The groups included 2 % alginate at 25 °C (Alg₂₅) and 50 °C (Alg₅₀), a mixture of 2 % alginate and 2 % LAE at 25 °C (M₂₅) and 50 °C (M₅₀), besides control untreated samples in distilled water at 25 °C (C₂₅) and 50 °C (C₅₀). The chicken drumsticks were stored at -18 °C for 3 months. The results showed that all treated chicken drumsticks induced a significant reduction in all bacterial counts, as well as a significant decrease in pH and thiobarbituric acid values, with an improvement in all sensory attributes, particularly in the M₂₅ and M₅₀ coated samples compared to the C₂₅ and C₅₀. Furthermore, exposing alginate and LAE to a temperature of 50 °C can increase their antimicrobial activity. In conclusion, the innovative combinations of LAE and alginate can be used successfully to decontaminate chicken carcasses in poultry processing plants.

Effect of lysin EN4 in combination with sodium bicarbonate on reduction of Salmonella in chilled and thawed chicken meat

Lysin EN4 is a peptidoglycan-degrading enzyme. Like other lysins against Gram-negative bacteria, EN4 requires cell-wall destabilizing agents, such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) to facilitate it to the peptidoglycan layer. This study aimed to use EN4 in reducing Salmonella in chilled and thawed raw chicken meat. However, the use of EDTA is limited to some types of foods. An alternative to EDTA was explored. Sodium bicarbonate was identified as an effective alternative to EDTA. The combination of EN4 with 0.1 % NaHCO₃, pH 7.4 showed a wide lytic spectrum against Salmonella spp. The combination showed efficiency in reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis and Typhimurium in raw chicken meat during storage at 4 °C for 48 h, with the maximum reduction of 1.0-1.3log CFU/g. The efficiency of the combination against Salmonella was evaluated in frozen chicken meat during proper and improper defrosting. A significant reduction of Salmonella was observed in EN4-treated meat compared to the untreated control through 48 and 4 h of defrosting at 4 and 30 °C, respectively, with the greatest reduction of 1.2-1.6 log CFU/g. The results indicated that EN4 in combination with NaHCO₃ has a potential use for controlling growth of Salmonella in chilled and thawed chicken meat.

Effects of edible chitosan coating containing Salvia rosmarinus essential oil on quality characteristics and shelf life extension of rabbit meat during chilled storage

Rabbit meat is one of the most consumed meats throughout the world and is extremely susceptible to spoilage due to its high protein and moisture content. Natural preservatives with antioxidant and antibacterial properties are needed to maintain meat quality and increase its shelf life. This study examined the effect of 1% chitosan (CH), 0.2% rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) essential oil (REO), and their combination on pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) levels, and the microbial profile of rabbit meat stored over 12 days at 4 °C. During this time, changes in appearance, odor, and texture were also noted. The shelf lives of samples treated with only 1% CH coating, or in combination with 0.2% REO, were longer than those of untreated samples. These results showed that samples treated with both CH and REO were still acceptable until the 12th day and resulted in significantly lower meat demerit scores in these treated groups compared with untreated meat. In all groups, the pH, TVB-N, and TBA values increased over time, but these values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in untreated samples. Microbial analysis results showed that chilled rabbit meat samples treated with combined 1% CH and 0.2% REO reduced Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, and Psychrotrophic counts. The experimental results demonstrated that using CH coating in combination with REO improved the quality of rabbit meat and could be an effective approach to reduce rabbit meat deterioration during chilled storage.

Lauric arginate ethyl ester: An update on the antimicrobial potential and application in the food systems

Lauric arginate ethyl ester (LAE), a cationic surfactant with low toxicity, displays excellent antimicrobial activity against a broad range of microorganisms. LAE has been approved as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for widespread application in certain foods at a maximum concentration of 200 ppm. In this context, extensive research has been carried out on the application of LAE in food preservation for improving the microbiological safety and quality characteristics of various food products. This study aims to present a general review of recent research progress on the antimicrobial efficacy of LAE and its application in the food industry. It covers the physicochemical properties, antimicrobial efficacy of LAE, and the underlying mechanism of its action. This review also summarizes the application of LAE in various foods products as well as its influence on the nutritional and sensory properties of such foods. Additionally, the main factors influencing the antimicrobial efficacy of LAE are reviewed in this work, and combination strategies are provided to enhance the antimicrobial potency of LAE. Finally, the concluding remarks and possible recommendations for the future research are also presented in this review. In summary, LAE has the great potential application in the food industry. Overall, the present review intends to improve the application of LAE in food preservation.

Sustainable bio-based antimicrobials derived from fatty acids: Synthesis, safety, and efficacy

Some conventional sanitizers and antibiotics used in food industry may be of concerns due to generation of toxic byproducts, impact on the environment, and the emergence of antibiotic resistance bacteria. Bio-based antimicrobials can be an alternative to conventional sanitizers since they are produced from renewable resources, and the bacterial resistance to these compounds is of less concern than those of currently used antibiotics. Among the bio-based antimicrobial compounds, those produced via either fermentation or chemical synthesis by covalently or electrovalently attaching specific moieties to the fatty acid have drawn attention in recent years. Disaccharide, arginine, vitamin B1, and phenolics are linked to fatty acids resulting in the production of sophorolipid, lauric arginate ethyl ester, thiamin dilauryl sulfate, and phenolic branched-chain fatty acid, respectively, all of which are reported to exhibit antimicrobial activity by targeting the cell membrane of the bacteria. Also, studies that applied these compounds as food preservatives by combining them with other compounds or treatments have been reviewed regarding extending the shelf life and inactivating foodborne pathogens of foods and food products. In addition, the phenolic branched-chain fatty acids, which are relatively new compounds compared to the others, are highlighted in this review.

Monitoring the effect of active packaging films with silver-kaolinite using different packaging systems on the quality of beef meat

Active packaging films based on gelatin with silver-kaolinite (Ag-Kln) were developed and their effects on the quality and microbial growth of beef meat stored in different packaging systems (cling film, vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging) at 4 °C for 13 days were evaluated. The analysis revealed that Ag-Kln packaging films had no adverse effects on the pH and colour of the beef samples irrespective of the packaging system used. Beef meat in packaging with active films lost more weight (P < 0.05) than without active films for meat in the vacuum and modified systems on day 13. In general, these gelatin films with Ag-Kln showed the potential as antibacterial films and could enhance the shelf life of food products, however, further studies are required to establish the release rate of silver from packaging films, as well as test the efficiency of these materials under different storage conditions. In conclusion, this study revealed that gelatin film with silver-kaolinite is a promising antibacterial agent and preservation material for food shelf life extension.

Combination of Chitosan, Tea Polyphenols, and Nisin on the Bacterial Inhibition and Quality Maintenance of Plant-Based Meat

Plant-based meat products have gained attention in the food industry and with consumers. Plant-based meat products primarily comprise plant proteins and are rich in nutrients. However, the products are highly susceptible to bacterial contamination during storage. Biological preservatives are easily degradable alternatives to chemical preservatives and can preserve different kinds of food. In order to investigate the preservation properties of chitosan (CS), tea polyphenols (TPs), and nisin treatments on plant-based meats, the sensory evaluation, color difference, pH, TBARS, and the total plate count of E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella, indicators of the biological preservative-treated plant-based meat, were determined in this study. The experiment involved blank control- and biological preservative-treated samples. We found that the total microbial count exceeded the national standard provisions in the control samples stored for 14 days. The colors, tissue structures, and flavors of plant-based meat have gradually deteriorated, with the sensory score dropping from 90 to 52. The sample had a loose tissue structure and an obvious sour taste. However, the shelf life of the plant-based meat samples treated with different combinations of the biological preservatives increased compared to the shelf life of the control samples. After 56 d of storage, 1% chitosan, 2.5% tea polyphenols, and 0.04% nisin sensory reduction to 56, the total number of colonies and S. aureus were 4.91 and 2.95 lg CFU/g, approaching the national standard threshold; E. coli was 2 lg CFU/g, reaching the national standard threshold. Thus, the samples treated with 1% chitosan, 2.5% tea polyphenols, and 0.04% nisin had the longest shelf life (56 days) among all experimental groups. Hence, this study reveals that a combination of biological preservatives may be a non-toxic alternative for the efficient preservation of plant-based meat products.

Photodynamic Effect of Riboflavin on Chitosan Coatings and the Application in Pork Preservation

Riboflavin (RF) was considered to be possessed of photoactivity to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under ultraviolet (UV) light, which is thought to be a favorable antibacterial candidate. Herein, RF was incorporated into chitosan (CS) coatings and treated under UV with different exposure times (2, 4, and 6 h) to improve the physicochemical and antibacterial properties. The results showed that the light transmittance and antibacterial performance of chitosan coatings gradually increased with the extension of the UV irradiation time. The antibacterial ability of chitosan coatings correlated with the generation of ROS: ∙OH and H₂O₂, which achieved 1549.08 and 95.48 μg/g, respectively, after 6 h irradiation. Furthermore, the chitosan coatings with UV irradiation also reduced the pH value, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), ΔE, and total viable counts (TVC) and improved sensory attributes of pork. In conclusion, the UV irradiated chitosan coatings could be used as an environmentally friendly antimicrobial packaging material to effectively delay the spoilage of pork, maintain its sensory quality and prolong its shelf life.