The taste of fat. Meat Sci. 2008;80:37-42. [PMID: 22063168 DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2008.05.030]

Cultured meat with enriched organoleptic properties by regulating cell differentiation

Research on cultured meat has primarily focused on the mass proliferation or differentiation of muscle cells; thus, the food characteristics of cultured meat remain relatively underexplored. As the quality of meat is determined by its organoleptic properties, cultured meat with similar sensory characteristics to animal-derived meat is highly desirable. In this study, we control the organoleptic and nutritional properties of cultured meat by tailoring the 2D differentiation of primary bovine myoblasts and primary bovine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on gelatin/alginate scaffolds with varying stiffness. We assess the effect of muscle and adipose differentiation quality on the sensory properties of cultured meat. Thereafter, we fabricate cultured meat with similar sensory profiles to that of conventional beef by assembling the muscle and adipose constructs composed of highly differentiated cells. We introduce a strategy to produce cultured meat with enriched food characteristics by regulating cell differentiation with scaffold engineering.

Analysis of volatile compounds and flavor fingerprint in hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) during air-drying using headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS)

In the present study, changes in volatile compounds during processing were analyzed using the headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS), to investigate the generation of aroma in hairtails (Trichiurus lepturus) during air-drying. Physicochemical indices, such as moisture content and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), were also detected. Flavor fingerprints were studied and developed to distinguish the samples of fresh hairtails (0 day) from air-dried hairtails (2 and 4 days). A total of 75 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified in hairtails, in which alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and esters were the principal contributors to the formation of the overall flavor of hairtails during air-drying. Seven flavor compounds (ethanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-pentanol, hexanal, octanal, benzaldehyde, and 3-methylbutanal), two flavor compounds (acetoin and dimethyl sulfide), and eight flavor compounds (1-hexanol, 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, heptanal, 2-heptanone, ethyl acetate, trimethylamine, and ammonia) were identified in 0, 2, and 4 air-dried hairtails as biomarkers, respectively. The results showed that HS-GC-IMS could detect VOCs in different air-dried hairtails rapidly and comprehensively.

The influence of the rotational speed of the meat cutter knives and bowl on the microstructure of meat products

The aim of the study was to determine the structure of meat batter and processed meat products, depending on the chopping time and rotational speed of the cutter knives and bowl, by means of histochemical methods combined with the computer image analysis system. Finely comminuted meat batters and processed meat products were investigated. Four variants of the rotational speed of cutter knives and bowl were applied in the experiment: 1500/10 rpm, 1500/20 rpm , 3000/10 rpm and 3000/20 rpm. The chopping process lasted 10 min. After 5, 6, 8 and 10 min of chopping samples of meat batter and processed meat products were collected for histological analyses. The microstructure of structural elements (fat globules and collagen fibres) was measured using computer image analysis. The following parameters were included in a characteristic of the images: the area, circumference, length and width of fat fields; the number of fat fields analysed; the percentage of fat fields in the field under analysis; the area, circumference, length and width of collagen fibres. The computer image analysis showed that the optimal speed of the cutter knives and bowl was 3000/20 rpm. The chopping time was reduced from 10 to 8 min.

Investigation of volatile flavor compounds and characterization of aroma-active compounds of water-boiled salted duck using GC-MS-O, GC-IMS, and E-nose

To clarify the characteristic aroma substances of water-boiled salted duck (WSD), headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry (HS-GC-MS-O), gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) combined with an electronic nose (E-nose) were used to analyze the volatile flavor profile of three types of WSD (containing four samples). Thirty-one and fifty volatile flavor components were identified by GC-MS and GC-IMS, including aldehydes, alcohols, esters, ketones, hydrocarbons, and others. The characteristic aroma compounds of WSD, including pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, (E)-2-octenal, benzaldehyde, (E)-2-nonenal, decanal, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-octanol, 1-pentanol, ethyl acetate, d-limonene, and 2-pentylfuran, were confirmed by GC-O, odor activity values (OAVs), and aroma-recombination and omission experiments. The aroma description of these aroma-active compounds can be divided into 6 categories, namely, "fruity", "mushroom", "fat", "sweet", "faint scent" and "potato, scorch" aromas. The difference between samples was mainly caused by the differential volatile compounds, followed by the identification method.

Strategies to improve meat-like properties of meat analogs meeting consumers' expectations

Due to environmental and ethical concerns, meat analogs represent an emerging trend to replace traditional animal meat. However, meat analogs lacking specific sensory properties (flavor, texture, color) would directly affect consumers' acceptance and purchasing behavior. In this review, we discussed the typical sensory characteristics of animal meat products from texture, flavor, color aspects, and sensory perception during oral processing. The related strategies were detailed to improve meat-like sensory properties for meat analogs. However, the upscaling productions of meat analogs still face many challenges (e.g.: sensory stability of plant-based meat, 3D scaffolds in cultured meat, etc.). Producing safe, low cost and sustainable meat analogs would be a hot topic in food science in the next decades. To realize these promising outcomes, reliable robust devices with automatic processing should also be considered. This review aims at providing the latest progress to improve the sensory properties of meat analogs and meet consumers' requirements.

Pharmacological significance of extra-oral taste receptors

It has recently been shown that taste receptors, in addition to being present in the oral cavity, exist in various extra-oral organs and tissues such as the thyroid, lungs, skin, stomach, intestines, and pancreas. Although their physiological function is not yet fully understood, it appears that they can help regulate the body's homeostasis and provide an additional defense function against pathogens. Since the vast majority of drugs are bitter, the greatest pharmacological interest is in the bitter taste receptors. In this review, we describe how bitter taste 2 receptors (TAS2Rs) induce bronchodilation and mucociliary clearance in the airways, muscle relaxation in various tissues, inhibition of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in thyrocytes, and release of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and ghrelin in the digestive system. In fact, substances such as dextromethorphan, chloroquine, methimazole and probably glimepiride, being agonists of TAS2Rs, lead to these effects. TAS2Rs and taste 1 receptors (TAS1R2/3) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). TAS1R2/3 are responsible for sweet taste perception and may induce GLP-1 release and insulin secretion. Umami taste receptors, belonging to the same superfamily of receptors, perform a similar function with regard to insulin. The sour and salty taste receptors work in a similar way, both being channel receptors sensitive to amiloride. Finally, gene-protein coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) and GPR120 for fatty taste perception are also protein-coupled receptors and may induce GLP-1 secretion and insulin release, similar to those of other receptors belonging to the same superfamily.

Food Preferences and Obesity

Obesity is a multifactorial disease with several potential causes that remain incompletely understood. Recent changes in the environment, which has become increasingly obesogenic, have been found to interact with individual factors. Evidence of the role of taste responsiveness and food preference in obesity has been reported, pointing to a lower taste sensitivity and a higher preference and intake of fat and, to a lesser extent, sweet foods in obese people. Studies in the last decades have also suggested that individual differences in the neurophysiology of food reward may lead to overeating, contributing to obesity. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings. In fact, only a limited number of studies has been conducted on large samples, and several studies were conducted only on women. Larger balanced studies in terms of sex/gender and age are required in order to control the confounding effect of these variables. As many factors are intertwined in obesity, a multidisciplinary approach is needed. This will allow a better understanding of taste alteration and food behaviours in obese people in order to design more effective strategies to promote healthier eating and to prevent obesity and the related chronic disease risks.

Duck breast muscle proteins, free fatty acids and volatile compounds as affected by curing methods

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different curing methods on protein structure, protein and lipid oxidation, lypolysis and volatile compounds in duck breast meat. The results showed that compared to static brining and pulsed pressure salting, the vacuum tumbling curing significantly decreased the oxidation of proteins and lipids, and the surface hydrophobicity of proteins, increased α-helix structure but decreased the proportion of β-sheet, and increased actomyosin dissociation, liplysis and the free fatty acid content in meat. Meanwhile, vacuum tumbling curing decreased the amount of volatile flavor compounds, hexanal, 2,3-octanone, and off-flavor compounds 1-octen-3-ol and 1-hexanol. This study suggests that concerns on healthiness and the sensory quality of processed meat products should be paid in the selection of curing methods and vacuum tumbling curing is superior in terms of both aspects.

Gender Differences in Fat-Rich Meat Choice: Influence of Personality and Attitudes

The innate liking of fats may be due to one or more orosensory, post-ingestive, and metabolic signals; however, individuals differ in their preference for fat in meat. One of the variables that mainly impacts eating behaviors and thus should be carefully analyzed is sex/gender, and while sex (female/male, in a binary approximation) refers only to biological characteristics, gender (woman/man, in a binary approximation) refers to cultural attitudes and behavior. This study aimed at exploring the role of gender, age, taste responsiveness (measured as sensitivity to the bitterness of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP)), personality traits, attitudes, and liking of and familiarity with meat on the choice of fat-rich meat products in 1208 women and men aged 18–66. Both a between- and a within-gender approach were adopted. Results showed that gender had a major impact on liking of and familiarity with meat and choice for fat-rich meat compared to age. A lower liking meat in general was found in women, independently of fat content. Women also reported a lower familiarity than men with fatty meat and cold meat and a lower choice of fat-rich meat. Genders differed in the influence of personality and attitudes about fat-rich meat choice. In both genders, the choice of meat higher in fat was associated with liking cold and fatty meat and with age and negatively with liking low-fat meat. Women were in general more interested in health than men, and this may explain the main difference in the choice of fat-rich meat between genders. However, when we look at each gender separately, general health interest was significantly correlated with a lower choice of fat-rich meat only in men. In addition, in men food neophobia was negatively correlated with choice of fat-rich meat. In women, the emotional dimension was found to play an important role, with sensitivity to disgust that was negatively associated with fat-rich meat choice and emotional eating that was positively associated with it. Thanks to the large sample and the gender-sensitive approach adopted, this study showed that different factors affect choice of fat-rich meat by gender, in addition to liking of and familiarity with fat-rich and cold meat and age. This suggests that strategies personalized by gender to reinforce or activate barriers to this type of consumption may be more effective at reducing fat intake, promoting the consumption of meat lower in fat.

Fatty Acid Content, Flavor Compounds, and Sensory Quality of Pork Loin as Affected by Dietary Supplementation with l-arginine and Glutamic Acid

To investigate the effect of functional amino acid on meat flavor and eating quality, 60 growing-finishing pigs (Duroc × Large White × Landrace) were dietarily supplemented with or without 1.0% l-arginine, glutamic acid, or l-arginine plus glutamic acid for 2 months. After animals were slaughtered, the muscle fatty acid profile, flavor compounds, and meat sensory quality were comparatively investigated. The results showed that dietary supplementation with arginine, glutamic acid, or arginine plus glutamic acid had little effect on free amino acids, no effect on 5'-nucleotides and meat sensory taste traits, but supplementation with arginine plus glutamic acid significantly increased (P < 0.05) fat accumulation and fatty acid content in muscle, increased (P < 0.05) the formation of multiple fatty acid oxidation-derived volatile compounds, and improved the tenderness, juiciness, and overall eating quality of meat. This study revealed that dietary supplementation with 1.0% l-arginine and glutamic acid could be used to improve meat eating quality in pork production.

Quality characteristics of reduced fat emulsion-type chicken sausages using chicken skin and wheat fiber mixture as fat replacer

This study identified the suitability of chicken skin and wheat fiber mixture (CSFM) as an optimal fat replacer and its addition levels in reduced fat emulsion-type sausages, also paying heed to quality characteristics. Two CSFM types [CSFM-1 and CSFM-2 (chicken skin:ice:wheat fiber = 5:3:2 or 3:5:2, respectively)] were added at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% (w/w) as fat replacer. As the addition level increased, higher moisture and lower fat content were observed in the sausage samples without protein content loss (P < 0.05). Emulsion stability and pH were not significantly affected. Replacement with CSFM-2 at levels exceeding 15% significantly reduced cooking yield. While partial change in instrumental color was observed depending on replacer type and addition level, the panel did not detect the same. Hardness increased significantly with increasing addition levels. The panel detected decreased tenderness at 20% and 10 to 20% CSFM-1 and CSFM-2, respectively (P < 0.05). Twenty percent CSFM-1 and >10% CSFM-2 additions induced significant decrease in overall acceptability compared to the control. Thus, CSFM can be used as a fat replacer in reduced fat emulsion-type sausages at addition levels of 15% CSFM-1 (7.5% chicken skin, 4.5% water, and 3% wheat fiber based on total weight of meat batter) or 5% CSFM-2 (1.5% chicken skin, 2.5% water, and 1% wheat fiber based on total weight of meat batter).

Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Food Quality Control: A Review

Modern challenges of food science require a new understanding of the determinants of food quality and safety. Application of advanced imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has seen impressive successes and fast growth over the past decade. Since MRI does not have any harmful ionizing radiation, it can be considered as a magnificent tool for the quality control of food products. MRI allows the structure of foods to be imaged noninvasively and nondestructively. Magnetic resonance images can present information about several processes and material properties in foods. This review will provide an overview of the most prominent applications of MRI in food research.

Sensory characteristics of liquids thickened with commercial thickeners to levels specified in the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) framework

Sensory characteristics are important for the acceptance of thickened liquids, but those of liquids thickened to the new standards put forth by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) are unknown. This research sought to identify and rate the perception of important sensory properties of liquids thickened to levels specified in the IDDSI framework. Samples were made with water, with and without added barium sulfate, and were thickened with a cornstarch or xanthan gum based thickener. Samples were characterized using projective mapping/ultra-flash profiling to identify important sample attributes, and then with trained descriptive analysis panels to characterize those attributes in non-barium and barium thickened liquids. Three main groups of attributes were observed. Taste and flavor attributes decreased in intensity with increasing thickener. Thickener specific attributes included graininess and chalkiness for the cornstarch thickened samples, and slipperiness for the xanthan gum samples. Within the same type of thickener, ratings of thickness-related attributes (perceived viscosity, adhesiveness, manipulation, and swallowing) at different IDDSI levels were significantly different from each other. However, in non-barium samples, cornstarch samples were perceived as thicker than xanthan gum samples even though they had similar apparent viscosities at 50 s^-1. On the other hand, the two thickeners had similar perceived thickness in the barium samples even though the apparent viscosities of cornstarch samples were higher than those of the xanthan gum samples. In conclusion, IDDSI levels can be distinguished based on sensory properties, but these properties may be affected by the type of thickener and medium being thickened.

Effect of Dietary Grape Pomace and Seed on Ewe Milk and Meat Quality of Their Suckling Lambs

The effect of wine by-products in the feeding of ewes on fatty acid composition of milk and meat of their suckling lambs and the sensory quality of the meat was investigated. Forty-two ewes were fed during the second half of gestation and lactation one out of three treatments: a control diet based on a commercial concentrate and two concentrates supplemented with either 10% grape pomace or 5% grape seed. In addition, all animals had ad libitum access of Lucerne chaff. The control group showed lower concentration of saturated fatty acids (mainly in short and medium chain) and higher monounsaturated fatty acids (mainly oleic acid) in the milk fat, being the total polyunsaturated fatty acids unchanged. However, this variation was not reflected in the meat of the suckling lambs, where only few differences in individual fatty acids were found, such as linoleic acid being highest in the pomace treatment. Spicy and metallic flavours were increased in the wine by-products groups, but overall liking was not affected. The by-products added to the diets may be a good way to reduce costs on feeding and waste, but they were not able to provide a healthier fatty acid profile, neither in milk nor in the meat of the suckling lambs.

Salivary endocannabinoids andN-acylethanolamines upon mastication of a semisolid food: implications in fat taste, appetite and food liking

This study combined MSF and TDS methodologies to monitor salivary NAEs and ECs, fat taste, food liking and appetite in humans during pudding mastication.

Effects of sunflower soap stocks on light lamb meat quality

Thirty-two lambs were used to study the effect of sunflower soap stocks (SS), a by-product from the vegetable oil refinery industry, on meat chemical composition, fatty acid profile, volatile compounds, and consumer acceptability. Lambs were finished (average length of fattening period 35 ± 7.3 d, 26.8 ± 0.09 kg final BW) on a pelleted total mixed ration (TMR) with no SS (00SS) or including 15, 30 or 60 g SS/kg (15SS, 30SS, and 60SS, respectively). Sunflower soap stocks decreased the percentage of SFA, increased the proportion of -MUFA ( < 0.05), and modified the levels of several odor-active lipid-derived volatile compounds ( 0.05). Consumers were able to distinguish between control and 15SS meat samples in a triangular test ( < 0.05), but a well-defined preference for meat of any of these treatments was not exhibited ( > 0.05). Atherogenicity and saturation indexes decreased by 31% and 27%, respectively, in SS groups compared to control (linear 0.05). However, certain volatile compounds (benzene and toluene) and 10-18:1 fatty acid, known potential hazards for human health, were increased in meat from lambs fed TMR with SS. For this reason, only inclusion rates up to 15 g SS/kg TMR seem to sustain a satisfactory balance between beneficial and detrimental effects on lamb meat composition and quality.

Impact of oral processing on texture attributes and taste perception

Mastication is the first step of food digestion, where foods are broken down and simultaneously impregnated by saliva resulting in the formation of semi-fluids known as food boluses. This review focuses on the impact of oral processing on texture attributes and taste perception. The article describes the oral actions in which texture characteristic are measured for the critical conditions that trigger swallowing. Taste perception also plays a key role in oral processing and oral sensations. There are still challenges in terms of determining different oral physiological characteristics. These include individual chewing behavior regardless of the temporal aspects of dominant processes of comminution, insalivation, bolus formation and swallowing. A comprehensive approach is essential to process favorable foods with respect to the food properties of texture and taste.

CD36 genetic variation, fat intake and liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus infection

AIM

To analyze the association of the CD36 polymorphism (rs1761667) with dietary intake and liver fibrosis (LF) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.

METHODS

In this study, 73 patients with CHC were recruited. The CD36 genotype (G > A) was determined by a TaqMan real-time PCR system. Dietary assessment was carried out using a three-day food record to register the daily intake of macronutrients. Serum lipids and liver enzymes were measured by a dry chemistry assay. LF evaluated by transient elastography (Fibroscan^®) and APRI score was classified as mild LF (F1-F2) and advanced LF (F3-F4).

RESULTS

Overall, the CD36 genotypic frequencies were AA (30.1%), AG (54.8%), and GG (15.1%), whereas the allelic A and G frequencies were 57.5% and 42.5%, respectively. CHC patients who were carriers of the CD36 AA genotype had a higher intake of calories attributable to total fat and saturated fatty acids than those with the non-AA genotypes. Additionally, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) serum values were higher in AA genotype carriers compared to non-AA carriers (91.7 IU/L vs 69.8 IU/L, P = 0.02). Moreover, the AA genotype was associated with an increase of 30.23 IU/L of AST (β = 30.23, 95%CI: 9.0-51.46, P = 0.006). Likewise, the AA genotype was associated with advanced LF compared to the AG (OR = 3.60, 95%CI: 1.16-11.15, P = 0.02) or AG + GG genotypes (OR = 3.52, 95%CI: 1.18-10.45, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the CD36 (rs1761667) AA genotype is associated with higher fat intake and more instances of advanced LF in CHC patients.

Shelf-life Reduction as an Emerging Problem in Cooked Hams Underlines the Need for Improved Preservation Strategies

Cooked hams have gained an important position within the delicatessen market. Nowadays, consumers not only demand superior sensory properties but also request low levels of sodium and fat and the absence of conventional chemicals and preservatives used for the increase of the technological yield and shelf-life of the products. As a result, products that apply strict quality certificates or ''clean'' labels become increasingly important. However, such cooked hams suffer from a limited shelf-life. Besides some physicochemical effects, this is mainly due to microbial impact, despite the application of modified-atmosphere-packaging and chilling. Microbial spoilage is mostly due to the metabolic manifestation of lactic acid bacteria and Brochothrix thermosphacta, although Enterobacteriaceae and yeasts may occur too. Several preservation strategies have been developed to prolong the shelf-life of such vulnerable cooked meat products by targeting the microbial communities, with different rates of success. Whereas high-pressure treatments do not always pose a straightforward solution, a promising strategy relates to the use of bioprotective cultures containing lactic acid bacteria. The latter consist of strains that are deliberately added to the ham to outcompete undesirable microorganisms. Spoilage problems seem, however, to be specific for each product and processing line, underlining the importance of tailor-made solutions.

High-fat diet-related stimulation of sweetness desire is greater in women than in men despite high vegetable intake

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects of lunches with different dietary energy densities on food preferences between genders.

DESIGN

Randomized crossover study. Participants were administered the following packed test meals once weekly on a specified day during six sessions: control (150 g of rice with a sautéed beef entrée containing 40 g of raw beef and 240 g of vegetables), high-meat/low-rice, low-vegetable, medium-fat/low-vegetable, high-fat and high-fat/low-vegetable meals. Subjective levels of sensory properties were assessed over time using visual analogue scales.

SETTING

University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.

SUBJECTS

Sixty-five men and sixty-five women matched by age and BMI.

RESULTS

Men showed significantly stronger desires for salty and fatty foods after meals (P<0.05). Women showed a significantly stronger desire for sweetness from 2 h after the low-vegetable meal, and increasing fat content under high-vegetable conditions caused a significant stimulated sweetness desire in women more than in men (P<0.05). Moreover, after a high-meat/low-rice meal with 100 g of rice, sweetness desire was stronger in women (P=0.024), whereas no significant differences in sweetness desire were shown between genders after another low-energy-density control meal with 150 g of rice.

CONCLUSIONS

Men had significantly stronger desires for salty and fatty foods, whereas women preferred sweet food after meals. The sweetness desire in women was stimulated by increasing fat content, even with a high vegetable intake. Low rice intake in a low-energy-density diet also caused a relative stimulation of sweetness desire in women.

Selective transport of long-chain fatty acids by FAT/CD36 in skeletal muscle of broilers

Fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) is a membrane receptor that facilitates long-chain fatty acid uptake. To investigate its role in the regulation of long-chain fatty acid composition in muscle tissue, we studied and compared FAT/CD36 gene expression in muscle tissues of commercial broiler chickens and Chinese local Silky fowls. The results from gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of muscle samples demonstrated that Chinese local Silky fowls had significantly higher (P < 0.05) proportions of linoleic acid (LA) and palmitic acid, lower proportions (P < 0.05) of arachidonic acid (AA) and oleic acid than the commercial broiler chickens. The mRNA expression levels of fatty acid (FA) transporters (FA transport protein-1, membrane FA-binding protein, FAT/CD36 and caveolin-1) in the m. ipsilateral pectoralis and biceps femoris were analyzed by Q-PCR, and FAT/CD36 expression levels showed significant differences between these types of chickens (P < 0.01). Interestingly, the levels of FAT/CD36 expression are positively correlated with LA content (r = 0.567, P < 0.01) but negatively correlated with palmitic acid content (r = -0.568, P < 0.01). Further experiments in the stably transfected Chinese hamster oocytes cells with chicken FAT/CD36 cDNA demonstrated that overexpression of FAT/CD36 improves total FA uptake with a significant increase in the proportion of LA and AA, and a decreased proportion of palmitic acid. These results suggest that chicken FAT/CD36 may selectively transport LA and AA, which may lead to the higher LA deposition in muscle tissue.

Textural, physicochemical and sensory properties compensation of fat replacing in pork liver pâté incorporating emulsified canola oil

Saturated animal fat was replaced in pork pâté with pre-emulsified canola in a 3% sodium caseinate/0.5% xanthan gum solution in order to obtain a stable oily phase. Fat was replaced with different proportions of emulsified canola oil. The inclusion of emulsified oil in pâté enhanced cocking yield and moisture but increased fluids release. Nonetheless, total fat content remained practically constant, meaning no detrimental effect on caloric content. Replacing 50% of lard with emulsified oil did not affect color of the samples. Texture was improved since emulsified oil addition resulted in softer and more spreadable pâté. Samples with 50% of emulsified oil were more stable to lipid oxidation at 8 days of storage, with lower thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and volatile compounds resulting from oxidation reactions. Emulsified canola can be employed to replace fat until 50% in pâté or liver sausage with good functional properties, improving texture and reducing lipids rancidity.

The effect of corn distiller's dried grains with solubles, ractopamine, and conjugated linoleic acid on the carcass performance, meat quality, and shelf-life characteristics of fresh pork following three different storage methods

The objective of this study was to evaluate dietary corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC), and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on growth performance, carcass and fat quality, and shelf-life of fresh pork from finishing pigs. Barrows (n=72) were fed one of eight treatments consisting of two diet sources (corn-soy and corn-soy+20% DDGS), two levels of RAC (0 and 7.4ppm), and two levels of CLA (0 and 0.6%) for 28days. Loins were portioned (n=3) into one of three storage conditions (fresh, cold, frozen); each followed with seven days of retail display. Feeding RAC improved ADG and G:F (P<0.05), whereas DDGS decreased belly fat firmness (P<0.05). Dietary DDGS increased total polyunsaturated fatty acids in jowl and belly samples and increased Iodine Value (IV) (P<0.05), but addition of CLA decreased IV. Dietary DDGS, RAC, or CLA had minimal impact on pork quality following varied storage methods.

Allied industry approaches to alter intramuscular fat content and composition in beef animals

Biochemical and biophysical research tools are used to define the developmental dynamics of numerous cell lineages from a variety of tissues relevant to meat quality. With respect to the adipose cell lineage, much of our present understanding of adipogenesis and lipid metabolism was initially determined through the use of these methods, even though the in vitro or molecular environments are far removed from the tissues of meat animals. This concise review focuses on recent cellular and molecular biology-related research with adipocytes, and how the research might be extended to the endpoint of altering red meat quality. Moreover, economic and policy impacts of such in animal production regimens is discussed. These issues are important, not only with respect to palatability, but also to offer enhanced health benefits to the consumer by altering content of bioactive components in adipocytes.

Vacuum-packed ripened sausages: evolution of oxidative and hydrolytic degradation of lipid fraction during long-term storage and influence on the sensory properties

An experimental investigation was carried out with the aim to understand the oxidative and hydrolytic phenomena involving the lipid fraction of vacuum-packed sausages during long-term storage (5 months) and to verify their influence on the sensory characteristics. The data obtained pointed out that the oxidation was more pronounced in the initial stages of storage than in the further period, while the hydrolysis of lipid fraction significantly advanced during the whole storage time, supported by the high moisture level of the product. Both these phenomena resulted to be correlated with the sensory decay of the product. In particular, in the first stage of vacuum storage overall acceptability was found to be negatively correlated (p<0.05) with rancid taste, acid value, and oxidized triacylglycerols. In the further stage the oxidative processes slowed down and affected in a lesser extent the sensory properties, which were more distinctly characterized by the onset of pungent perception attributed to compounds arising from multiple origins such as carbohydrate fermentation. This investigation confirmed the unreliability of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances test and the usefulness of high performance size exclusion chromatography analysis of the polar compounds of the lipid fraction to correctly determine the levels of the oxidative and hydrolytic degradation of the lipid fraction of vacuum-packed ripened sausages during long-term storage.