Chia and oat emulsion gels as new animal fat replacers and healthy bioactive sources in fresh sausage formulation

Progress in the Preparation and Application of Inulin-Based Hydrogels

Inulin, a natural polysaccharide, has emerged as a promising precursor for the preparation of hydrogels due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural versatility. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in the preparation, characterization, and diverse applications of inulin-based hydrogels. Different synthesis strategies, including physical methods (thermal induction and non-thermal induction), chemical methods (free-radical polymerization and chemical crosslinking), and enzymatic approaches, are discussed in detail. The unique properties of inulin-based hydrogels, such as stimuli-responsiveness, antibacterial activity, and their potential as fat replacers, are highlighted. Special emphasis is given to their promising applications in drug delivery systems, especially for colon-targeted delivery, due to the selective degradation of inulin via colonic microflora. The ability to incorporate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs further expands their therapeutic potential. In addition, the applications of inulin-based hydrogels in responsive materials, the food industry, wound dressings, and tissue engineering are discussed. While significant progress has been achieved, challenges and prospects in optimizing synthesis, improving mechanical properties, and exploring new functionalities are discussed. Overall, this review highlights the remarkable properties of inulin-based hydrogels as a promising class of biomaterials with immense potential in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and materials science fields.

Emulsified sausages with yeast protein as an animal fat replacer: Effects on nutritional composition, spatial structure, gel performance, and sensory quality

This paper investigated the effect of yeast protein (YP)-fat replacement on the nutritional composition, spatial structure, gel performance, and sensory quality of emulsified sausages. YP is enriched with essential amino acids (36.49 g/100 g), which improved the nutritional quality of sausages whereas reducing its fat content. Moreover, YP could absorb water and fat, thus the YP-added sausages exhibiting an amount-dependent increase in emulsion stability and water migration. The microstructure illustrated that YP acted as a filler to improve structural homogeneity and compactness of the pork gel network. And YP-fat replacement could significantly enhance the hardness, gel strength and elasticity of sausages whereas decreasing the viscosity. Additionally, at partial or full YP-fat replacement (25-100%), the YP-added sausages scored higher in odor and texture, as well as better antioxidant stability than controls. Overall, YP can be employed as a new fat substitute for the preparation of healthy and nutritional sausages, while maintaining the sensory quality.

Strategies for Healthier Meat Foods: An Overview

Functional food products remain the focus of current market trends toward healthier nutrition. The consumption of meat-based functional foods has been a topic of interest in food innovation since some of these products generate controversy due to their possible adverse effects on health. However, studies have demonstrated that meat-based functional products are considered an opportunity to improve the nutritional profile of meat products through the addition of biologically valuable components and to meet the specific needs of consumers. In this sense, some strategies and techniques are applied for processing and developing functional meat products, such as modifying carcass composition through feeding, reformulating meat products, and processing conditions. This review focuses on presenting developed and evaluated strategies that allow the production of healthy and functional meat foods, which application has successfully achieved the sensory, nutritional, and technological parameters mainly affected by such application.

Freeze-thaw stability of transglutaminase-induced soy protein-maltose emulsion gel: Focusing on morphology, texture properties, and rheological characteristics

In this study, soy protein isolate (SPI) and maltose (M) were employed as materials for the synthesis of a covalent compound denoted as SPI-M. The emulsion gel was prepared by transglutaminase (TGase) as catalyst, and its freeze-thaw stability was investigated. The occurrence of Maillard reaction was substantiated through SDS-PAGE. The analysis of spectroscopy showed that the structure of the modified protein was more stretched, changed in the direction of freeze-thaw stability. After three freeze-thaw cycles (FTC), it was observed that the water holding capacity of SPI-M, SPI/M mixture (SPI+M) and SPI emulsion gels exhibited reductions of 8.49 %, 16.85 %, and 20.26 %, respectively. Moreover, the soluble protein content also diminished by 13.92 %, 23.43 %, and 35.31 %, respectively. In comparison to unmodified SPI, SPI-M exhibited increase in gel hardness by 160 %, while elasticity, viscosity, chewability, and cohesion demonstrated reductions of 17.7 %, 23.3 %, 33.3 %, and 6.76 %, respectively. Concurrently, the SPI-M emulsion gel exhibited the most rapid gel formation kinetics. After FTCs, the gel elastic modulus (G') and viscosity modulus (G″) of SPI-M emulsion were the largest. DSC analysis underscored the more compact structure and heightened thermal stability of the SPI-M emulsion gel. SEM demonstrated that the SPI-M emulsion gel suffered the least damage following FTCs.

Evaluation of bigel systems as potential substitutes to partially replace pork backfat in semi-dry sausages

Bigels prepared with olive oil oleogels admixed with κ-carrageenan or κ-carrageenan and gelatin hydrogels (BG1 and BG2, respectively) were characterized with respect to microstructure and textural properties and were used as pork backfat alternatives in semi-dry sausages. Stable oleogel-in-hydrogel type bigels were formed, with BG2 having higher hardness values. Control sausages (CF) were formulated with 20% pork backfat and sausage treatments B1F and B2F had 50% of the pork backfat substituted by BG1 and BG2 bigels, respectively. Moisture, water activity, texture, microbial counts, sensorial and nutritional attributes of the resulting sausages were assessed during fermentation and after pasteurization and storage. Substituted sausages had increased weight loss, moisture, and water activity. Color evaluation revealed that the treatments with bigels exhibited the same trend in color formation and no differences were recorded in L* and a* values of the sausages. Total viable counts and lactic acid bacteria populations were not affected by the addition of bigel systems. Regarding the texture parameters, B2F semi-dry sausages exhibited similar values of hardness and cohesiveness to CF. Sausages formulated with bigels exhibited a reduction in energy (20%), fat (27%), saturated fatty acids (30%) and cholesterol (∼6%) content. B2F sausages had similar liking scores with CF, and they did not show any undesirable sensory attributes. The results demonstrate that bigels are a promising fat alternative to manufacture semi-dry meat products with lower fat content and a better nutritional profile.

Quality Characteristics of Reduced-Fat Emulsified Sausages Made with Yeast Mannoprotein Enzymatically Prepared with a β-1,6-glucanase

Mannoproteins, as yeast polysaccharides, have been utilized in food the industry as dietary fibers, emulsifying agents or fat replacers. Mannoprotein MP112, produced from yeast by enzymatic hydrolysis of myxobacterial β-1,6-glucanase GluM, exhibits excellent emulsifying properties in emulsion preparation. In this study, we aimed to examine the application of stable emulsion with the addition of mannoprotein MP112 (MP112 emulsion) to reduce the fat content of sausages. The addition of MP112 emulsion in emulsified sausages significantly reduced the fat content and increased the moisture and protein contents of emulsified sausages without the expense of their good sensory quality. Moreover, the textural properties of sausages were markedly improved with the higher hardness, chewiness and cohesiveness, especially in the 50-75% replacement ratio of MP112 emulsion. On the other hand, MP112 emulsion replacement of animal fat markedly improved the nutritional composition of emulsified sausages; they displayed a higher PUFA/SFA ratio and lower n-6/n-3 ratio due to their saturated fatty acids being replaced by poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Meanwhile, the oxidative stability of sausages was improved linearly, corresponding to the increased replacement ratio of MP112 emulsion. Our results show that mannoprotein-based emulsions could be used as potential fat alternatives in developing reduced-fat meat products.

Effect of vegetable oil hydrogel emulsion as a fat substitute on the physicochemical properties, fatty acid profile, and color stability of modified atmospheric packaged buffalo burgers

Buffalo burgers were prepared with 50% or 100% buffalo backfat substitution using walnut, and peanut oil emulsion gels (EGs) blended with chia flour. Burgers were stored at 2 °C in modified atmosphere packaging for 12 days. The fat replacement decreased total fat by 26% and increased ash by 34%. Hardness and chewiness decreased with increasing the fat replacement; however, it did not affect springiness and cohesiveness values. Burger reformulations led to an increase in cooking yield (10%). Walnut oil EGs increased PUFA level up to 458%. Both oils enhanced PUFA/SFA and ω-6/ω-3 ratios and atherogenic and thrombogenic indices. Concerning color attribute, about 66% reduction was observed in redness values during the storage period of 12 days. Moreover, the sensory scores for all attributes, i.e., appearance, odor, flavor, and juiciness, were in the acceptable range of five or above in the reformulated burgers. In conclusion, 50% fat substitution using walnut and peanut oil EGs improved the nutritional profile of buffalo burgers without compromising the technological and sensory characteristics.

Healthier Oils: A New Scope in the Development of Functional Meat and Dairy Products: A Review

In the present day, it has been widely established that a high intake of animal fat that contains a high content of saturated fatty acids may cause several life-threatening diseases, including obesity, diabetes-type 2, cardiovascular diseases, as well as several types of cancer. In this context, a great number of health organizations and government agencies have launched campaigns to reduce the saturated fat content in foods, which has prompted the food industry, which is no stranger to this problem, to start working to develop foods with a lower fat content or with a different fatty acid profile. Nevertheless, this is not an easy task due to the fact that saturated fat plays a very important role in food processing and in the sensorial perception of foods. Actually, the best way to replace saturated fat is with the use of structured vegetable or marine oils. The main strategies for structuring oils include pre-emulsification, microencapsulation, the development of gelled emulsions, and the development of oleogels. This review will examine the current literature on the different (i) healthier oils and (ii) strategies that will be potentially used by the food industry to reduce or replace the fat content in several food products.

Quality characteristics and gastrointestinal fate of low fat emulsified sausage formulated with konjac glucomannan/oat β-glucan composite hydrogel

The objective of present study was to evaluate the utilization of konjac glucomannan/oat β-glucan composite hydrogel as partial or complete fat replacer on the quality characteristics and gastrointestinal fate of emulsified sausages. The obtained results indicated that in comparison to control emulsified sausage sample, the incorporation of composite hydrogel at a 75 % fat replacement level could not only enhance emulsion stability, water holding capacity (WHC), and compact structure of formulated emulsified sausage, but also decrease their total fat content, cooking loss, hardness, and chewiness. The in vitro digestion results suggested the addition of konjac glucomannan/oat β-glucan composite hydrogel reduced the protein digestibility of emulsified sausage, while it did not change the molecular weight of digestive products. The confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM) image showed the addition of composite hydrogel changed the size of fat and protein aggregate of emulsified sausage during digestion. Based on these findings, the fabrication of composite hydrogel containing konjac glucomannan and oat β-glucan was a promising strategy as fat replacer. Furthermore, this study provided a theoretic basis for designing composite hydrogel based fat replacers.

Emulsion Gels Formed by Electrostatic Interaction of Gelatine and Modified Corn Starch via pH Adjustments: Potential Fat Replacers in Meat Products

The application of emulsion gels as animal fat replacers in meat products has been focused on due to their unique physicochemical properties. The electrostatic interaction between proteins and polysaccharides could influence emulsion gel stability. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of emulsion gels using starch and gelatin as stabilizers, promoting electrostatic attraction via pH adjustment. Three systems were studied: emulsion gel A (EGA) and emulsion gel B (EGB), which have positive and negative net charges that promote electrostatic interaction, and emulsion gel C (EGC), whose charge equals the isoelectric point and does not promote electrostatic interactions. There was no significant difference in proximate analysis, syneresis and thermal stability between samples, while EGA and EGB had higher pH values than EGC. The lightness (L*) value was higher in EGA and EGB, while the yellowness (b*) value was the highest in EGC. The smaller particle size (p < 0.05) in EGA and EGB also resulted in higher gel strength, hardness and oxidative stability. Microscopic images showed that EGA and EGB had a more uniform matrix structure. X-ray diffraction demonstrated that all the emulsion gels crystallized in a β′ polymorph form. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed a single characteristic peak was detected in both the melting and cooling curves for all the emulsion gels, which indicated that the fat exists in a single polymorphic state. All emulsion gels presented a high amount of unsaturated fatty acids and reduced saturated fat by up to 11%. Therefore, the emulsion gels (EGA and EGB) that favored the electrostatic protein-polysaccharide interactions are suitable to be used as fat replacers in meat products.

Oil-in Water Vegetable Emulsions with Oat Bran as Meat Raw Material Replacers: Compositional, Technological and Structural Approach

The unique composition and technological properties of some oat bran components (mainly protein and soluble fiber) and olive oil make them a good choice to form oil-in-water vegetable emulsions. The different concentrations of oat bran were studied to form olive oil-in water (O/W) emulsions to apply as a replacement for fat and meat. As a result, four O/W emulsions (OBE) were formulated with 10% (OBE10), 15% (OBE15), 20% (OEB20), and 30% (OBE30) oat bran concentrations and 40% olive oil, with the corresponding amount of water added for each O/W emulsion. Composition, technological properties (thermal stability, pH, texture), and lipid structural characteristics were evaluated. The results showed that low oat bran content (OEB10)-with a lower concentration of oat protein and β-glucans-resulted in an O/W emulsion with an aggregated droplet structure and lower thermal stability and hardness. These connections between composition, technology, and structural properties of olive O/W emulsions elaborated with oat bran could help in making the optimal choice for their potential application in the production of foods such as healthier meat products.

A Pumpkin-Based Emulsion Gel as a Texture Improvement of Mixed Horsemeat Semi-Smoked Sausages

Semi-smoked sausages were made with 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% replacement of horsemeat by emulsion gel made with offal broth (stomach, kidney, liver, heart, brain, and a miscellaneous trimmings of a horse), pumpkin flour, and egg yolk in a ratio of 5:4:1. The technological, nutritional, oxidative, and rheological (G′ and G″) properties were studied. Sausage water holding capacity (WHC) rose after being incorporated with pumpkin-based emulsion gel (PEG). There was a statistically significant (p < 0.01) improvement in sausage emulsion stability. Lipid oxidation in all samples, especially 5% and 15% addition of emulsion gel samples, was below the rancidity criterion, which is TBARS > 2.0−2.5 mg MDA/kg sample. This really is encouraging because unsaturated fatty acids, such as those found in horsemeat, are easily oxidized. Use of the emulsion gel did not noticeably alter the sausages’ pH. Using emulsion gel considerably reduced the cooking loss (p < 0.05) of sausages and significantly improved texture (p < 0.05). Partial replacement of mixed horsemeat with emulsion gel improved the physicochemical characteristics of semi-smoked sausages. The elasticity modulus (G′) showed that PEG15 (15% of emulsion gel) was the most resilient gel. The least powerful gels (p < 0.05) were PEG20 and PEG25. According to this study, adding a pumpkin-based emulsion gel to the meat matrix could improve the quality of the emulsified meat system and provide important data for related research and companies as strategies to market a healthier and more nutritious product with the necessary quality characteristics.

Insight into the mechanism of fracture properties modulated by microstructure in the myofibrillar protein and polysaccharide gel systems

The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism of fracture properties modulated by microstructure in the myofibrillar protein (MP) and polysaccharides gel systems. Compare to the modified starch, the dietary fiber significantly improved the fracture stress and reduced the fracture strain at same concentration. The treatment with 2% dietary fiber had the highest value of fracture stress and the lowest value of fracture strain, which were 259 g and 1.12 respectively. From the skeleton structure, the Raman spectroscopy result showed that dietary fiber addition significantly reduced the intensity at 2945 cm−1, which suggested that the aggregation of hydrophobic groups was improved. The SEM showed that the treatment with 2% dietary fiber had the highest fractal dimension value of 1.7772 and the lowest lacunary value of 0.258. From the filling structure, the paraffin section showed that the polysaccharides were just simply trapped in MP gel networks and formed numerous large volumes and no-elastic of cavities. The principal component analysis suggested that the compactness of three-dimensional gel networks determined fracture stress of composite gel. The no- no-elastic of cavities formed by modified starch and dietary fiber resulted in the reduction of fracture strain. These results would promote the development of innovative nutritional meat product formulation with satisfied textural property.

Graphical Abstract

Rheology of dispersions and emulsions composed of chia mucilage and the application of chia in food

Chia mucilage (CM) is an emerging resource in food applications. However, the mechanism of this biopolymer as a stabilizer/emulsifier ingredient has not yet been well defined. A non-uniform viscoelastic tridimensional network was observed on emulsions with CM, while the surface activity of the CM ingredient has been associated with its protein content. To understand its functionality in food, this review focused on discussing and summarizing the rheological properties of dispersions and emulsions composed of CM under different conditions, such as pH, temperature, salt content, and mucilage content. For example, emulsions and dispersions with CM showed pseudoplastic behavior. An increase in the CM concentration increased the viscosity and the consistency index and decreased the behavior index. The consistency index of dispersions with CM increased with pH. The future evaluation of emulsions and dispersions properties, such as viscoelastic properties and microstructure, is particularly important for the successful use of CM in the food industry. The principal studies have evaluated the use of CM in dairy and meat systems as an emulsifier, stabilizer, or lipid replacer. The nutritional quality of the products with CM was maintained or improved, but sometimes an undesirable darkening was observed. Future evaluation of the cold extraction method of CM might improve the color and overall sensory acceptability of food products with CM. Integrated chia seed processing, including mucilage, oil, and protein extraction could be carried out to make chia seed industrial processing viable. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Substituting Fat with Olive Oil, Mash Potato, or a Gelatin Matrix in Low-Salt-Content Dry-Fermented Sausages

It was investigated whether physicochemical properties and consumer perception of dry-fermented sausages were affected by the partial replacement of fat and salt by other compounds. A control batch and nine experimental batches, following 3 × 3 factorial design, were manufactured. The NaCl was replaced with of calcium lactate, magnesium chloride, or a blend 85% NaCl (sodium chloride) and 15% KCl (potassium chloride). The fat was partially substituted by olive oil, potato puree, or commercial gelatin. The pH, dry matter, fat content, free fatty acid content, peroxide index, microbial analysis, and tasting, were measured. Both fat type and slat type were affected to measured variables. In terms of moisture, gelatin would be the most recommendable substitute for fat, whereas KCL would be the better substitute for salt. The three oil batches and the potato-magnesium batches presented lower fat content than the control batch. Both the free fatty acid content and the peroxide values increased over the ripening time. At the end of the ripening, the three oil batches presented the highest values for free fatty acids, but there were no differences among the batches of peroxide index. Regarding bacterial counts, the potato-KCL batch was the most like the control batch. In visual appraisal, none of the scores of the measured variables were affected by the batch. Nevertheless, the batch of oil-magnesium would be purchased less than expected. The tasting quality was affected only by the salt type, but all of the batches were different from the control. Neither the gender (p > 0.05) nor the age (p > 0.05) of the respondents affected the taste scores, visual appraisal, or purchase intent. Results shows that the partial substitution of fat and salt in dry-fermented sausages is possible, even in greater percentages than those stated in the literature, without a detriment of sensory properties. Nevertheless, further experiments would be necessary to adjust the formulation, as well as to explore other possibilities.

Application of Emulsion Gels as Fat Substitutes in Meat Products

Although traditional meat products are highly popular with consumers, the high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol present significant health concerns. However, simply using plant oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids to replace animal fat in meat products causes a decline in product quality, such as lower levels of juiciness and hardness. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a fat substitute that can ensure the sensory quality of the product while reducing its fat content. Consequently, using emulsion gels to produce structured oils or introducing functional ingredients has attracted substantial attention for replacing the fat in meat products. This paper delineated emulsion gels into protein, polysaccharide, and protein–polysaccharide compound according to the matrix. The preparation methods and the application of the three emulsion gels as fat substitutes in meat products were reviewed. Since it displayed a unique separation structure, the double emulsion was highly suitable for encapsulating bioactive substances, such as functional oils, flavor components, and functional factors, while it also exhibited significant potential for developing low-fat or functional healthy meat products. This paper summarized the studies involving the utilization of double emulsion and gelled double emulsion as fat replacement agents to provide a theoretical basis for related research and new insight into the development of low-fat meat products.

Are quinoa proteins a promising alternative to be applied in plant-based emulsion gel formulation?

Emulsion gels are structured emulsion systems that behave as soft solid-like materials. Emulsion gels are commonly used in food-product design both as fat replacers and as delivery carriers of bioactive compounds. Different plant-derived proteins like soy, chia, and oat have been used in emulsion gel formulation to substitute fat in meat products and to deliver some vegetable dyes or extracts. Quinoa protein isolates have been scarcely applied in emulsion gel formulation although they seem to be a promising alternative as emulsion stabilizers. Quinoa protein isolates have a high protein content with a well-balanced amino acid profile and show good emulsifying and gelling capabilities. Unlike quinoa starch, quinoa protein isolates do not require any chemical modification before being used. The present article reviews the state of the art in food emulsion gels stabilized with vegetable proteins and highlights the potential uses of quinoa proteins in emulsion gel formulation.

Bioactive peptides of plant origin: distribution, functionality, and evidence of benefits in food and health

The multiple functions of peptides released from proteins have immense potential in food and health. In the past few decades, research interest in bioactive peptides of plant origin has surged tremendously, and new plant-derived peptides are continually discovered with advances in extraction, purification, and characterization technology. Plant-derived peptides are mainly extracted from dicot plants possessing bioactive functions, including antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, and antihypertensive activities. Although the distinct functions are said to depend on the composition and structure of amino acids, the practical or industrial application of plant-derived peptides with bioactive features is still a long way off. In summary, the present review mainly focuses on the state-of-the-art extraction, separation, and analytical techniques, functional properties, mechanism of action, and clinical study of plant-derived peptides. Special emphasis has been placed on the necessity of more pre-clinical and clinical trials to authenticate the health claims of plant-derived peptides.

Effects of added cereal fibers on the quality characteristics of black pudding prepared with duck blood

We investigated the physicochemical and rheological properties of black pudding prepared with duck blood using various combinations of cereal fiber sources: oat, buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth, and sorghum. The processing yield of black pudding made with duck blood and the cereals was higher than that of the control (without cereals) in all cases (P < 0.05). The moisture content of the black pudding was the highest in the buckwheat and amaranth groups (P < 0.05). The water activity, pH, and yellowness of the black pudding combined with duck blood and cereals were lower than that of the control (P < 0.05). The hardness of the black pudding with duck blood and cereals was higher than that of the control (P < 0.05), except for the amaranth group. The cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness of the black pudding with duck blood and cereals were higher than that of the control (P < 0.05). Differential scanning colorimetry showed distinct peak points according to treatment at the same temperature, and all treatments exhibited 2 peak temperatures, except for sorghum. The viscosities of all samples, including the control, decreased as the shear rate increased, and the viscosity of the black pudding with oat was slightly lower than that of the other samples. Thus, black pudding prepared with duck blood and cereal fibers showed excellent physicochemical and rheological properties, suggesting an improved processing method. These findings can further the development of products using duck blood as a valuable nutritional source rather than being lost as a by-product during slaughter.

Reduction of phosphate content in frankfurters by up to 50% using micronized cold-pressed sesame seed cake

Our study assessed the effects of micronized cold-pressed sesame seed cake (MCPSSC) incorporation as a potential phosphate replacement on the textural and gel properties of 50% reduced-phosphate frankfurters. Our results indicated that moderate MCPSSC addition (4%) resulted in the strongest inhibition of textural quality deficits in reduced-phosphates frankfurters, which was confirmed via scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, although some differences were perceived in the sensorial parameters and flavour profile of reduced-phosphate frankfurters prepared with MCPSSC, all of them were deemed acceptable. Therefore, incorporating moderate amounts of MCPSSC is a feasible strategy to reduce the phosphate contents of frankfurters and promote "clean label" practices.

The effect of β-glucan and inulin on the reduction of aflatoxin B1 level and assessment of textural and sensory properties in chicken sausages

In recent years, people have a tendency to consume ready-made foods such as sausages. Therefore, the use of quality raw materials in these products is very important because these compounds may be contaminated with aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Various biological and natural methods have been introduced to reduce aflatoxins in food products. The aim of the present study was to reduce AFB₁ levels. So, β-glucan (βG) and Inulin (IN) were used in different ratios (1: 2%, 2: 1%, 1.5: 1.5%, 0: 3, 3: 0%) in chicken sausages. AFB₁ levels were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) in a period of 1–45 days. Then, texture and sensory properties were examined. After 45 days, AFB₁ levels were decreased in all samples, and the highest level of reduction (73.7%) was observed in samples with 5 μg/kg AFB₁ and 3% βG. Texture analysis showed that all the evaluated features complied with the standard. The hardness of chicken sausage with addition of IN (3%) (3.162N) was close to that of the control (2.99N). None of the products were significantly different from the control sample in terms of sensory properties. Therefore, βG and IN are effective in reducing AFB1, and the produced sausages can be acceptable for marketing and be offered for consumption.

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Aflatoxin B₁ levels were assessed by adding β-glucan and inulin.

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Texture and sensory characteristics were investigated.

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Aflatoxin B₁ levels were reduced in all samples.

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The impact of β-glucan on the reduction of aflatoxin B₁ was more than that of inulin.

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The textural and sensory characteristics of the sausage samples were acceptable.

Cocoa Coproducts-Based and Walnut Oil Gelled Emulsion as Animal Fat Replacer and Healthy Bioactive Source in Beef Burgers

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects on the chemical, physic-chemical, technological, and sensory properties of beef burger when replacing different quantities of fat (50 and 100%) with different levels of oil-in-water-gelled emulsion elaborated with walnut oil and cocoa bean shell flour (GECW). The chemical composition of the samples was affected by the fat replacement. The reformulation increased the moisture and ash content while the fat and protein content decreased with respect to the control sample. The linolenic and linolenic acid content of the beef burgers increased as the GECW replacement was augmented. The polyunsaturated fatty/saturated fatty acid ratio increased in both raw and cooked burgers, whereas the atherogenicity index and thrombogenicity index were reduced in both raw and cooked burgers with respect to the control sample. The use of GECW as a fat replacer was found to be effective in improving the cooking loss. Similarly, there were positive effects on reductions in the diameter and the increases in the thickness of the beef burgers. Regarding lipid stability, in both the raw and cooked burgers, the reformulation increased the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARs) values with respect to the control sample. In both types of reformulated burgers, three bound polyphenols (mainly catechin and epicatechin) and two free polyphenols were identified, as were methylxanthines theobromine and caffeine. The sensory properties for the control and partial pork backfat replacement treatments were similar, while the sample with the total pork backfat replacement treatment showed the lowest scores. The blend of cocoa bean shell flour and walnut oil could be used as new ingredients for the development of beef burgers with a healthier nutritional profile without demeriting their sensory or cooking characteristics and physic-chemical properties.

Use of Tremella as Fat Substitute for the Enhancement of Physicochemical and Sensory Profiles of Pork Sausage

Pork fat in sausage was replaced by tremella at different proportions during the process, and the physicochemical and sensory profiles of pork sausage were evaluated. Five recipes with the replacement proportion of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% tremella were manufactured, and their proximate compositions, water activities, textures, colors, water holding capacities (WHC), and amino acid compositions were investigated. The results showed that the protein, ash and moisture content, lightness, redness, and WHC of pork sausages were increased (p < 0.05), and textural profile analysis (TPA) and sensory quality of the sausage were improved (p < 0.05). In addition, the content of essential amino acids (lysine and isoleucine) and the non-essential amino acids (proline and tyrosine) of sausages were increased (p < 0.05). The sausage had the best sensory performance when the replacement ratio of tremella was 75%. These results indicated that replacing fat with tremella could be a valid way to obtain nutritional and healthy sausage.

Relationship between masticatory variables and bolus characteristics of meat with different textures

The physiological transformations that happen during oral processing are complex and challenging to capture and measure; however, their knowledge can help design new products for people who struggle with mastication and swallowing. Here we relate chewing, saliva incorporation and bolus properties with initial meat texture. Three different textures (T1-tender, T2-intermediate, T3-tough) were created by cooking meat in different temperature time combinations and "ready-to-swallow" meat boluses were collected from 10 healthy individuals. Masticatory variables, saliva incorporation, and bolus mechanical and geometrical characteristics were analyzed. Meat texture showed significant effect on masticatory variables (number of chews and chewing duration) but not on saliva incorporation. Bolus mechanical characteristics (hardness, cohesiveness and adhesiveness) varied significantly (p < .05) with meat texture, where meat with a harder texture resulted in a harder bolus. Number of bolus particles changed significantly (p < .05) with increasing meat hardness, where harder meat produced more bolus particles. Significant (p < .05) intersubject variability was recorded for masticatory parameters and saliva incorporation. Mechanical and geometrical characteristics of "ready-to-swallow" meat bolus did not vary among subjects.

Future trends of processed meat products concerning perceived healthiness: A review

The 21st-century consumer is highly demanding when it comes to the health benefits of food and food products. In the pursuit of attracting these consumers and easing the rise in demand for high-quality meat products, the processed meat sector is intensely focused on developing reformulated, low-fat, healthy meat products. Meat and meat products are considered the primary sources of saturated fatty acids in the human diet. Therefore, these reformulation strategies aim to improve the fatty acid profile and reduce total fat and cholesterol, which can be achieved by replacing animal fat with plant-based oils; it could be performed as direct inclusion of these oils or pre-emulsified oils. However, emulsions offer a viable option for incorporating vegetable oils while avoiding the multiple issues of direct inclusion of these oils in meat products. Processed meat products are popular worldwide and showing a gradually increasing trend of consumption. Various types of plant-based oils have been studied as fat replacers in meat products. This review will focus on possible methods to reduce the saturated fatty acid content in meat products.

Effect of the Addition of Chia Seed Gel as Egg Replacer and Storage Time on the Quality of Pork Patties

Two types of patties were prepared: control and with chia seeds gel instead of beaten egg. The patties were cooked in the steam-convection oven, vacuum packed and stored at 4 °C. The pork patties with chia addition were characterized by similar water activity and pH values to the control samples. They showed lower values of the b* colour parameter as well as colour saturation (C*) and hue angle values (h°) on the cross-section and lower values of colour parameters L*, a* and b* and C* on the surface than the controls. The addition of chia seeds improved the texture parameters of the tested products. Pork patties with chia seeds were softer and showed better chewiness than the control samples. Chia slowed down oxidative changes in pork patties during storage. The use of 8.0% addition of chia seeds was only slightly noticeable in taste of the pork patties and these samples received similar overall quality scores as control samples.

Antioxidant Activities of Eggplant (Solanum melongena) Powder with Different Drying Methods and Addition Levels to Pork Sausages

The objective of this study was to evaluate antioxidant activities of eggplant (EP) powder with different drying methods and addition levels to pork sausages to improve product quality. Antioxidant activities of EP with different drying methods, particle sizes, and solvents of extraction were determined. Freeze dried (FD) EP extracted with 100% ethanol had higher 2,2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activities (DPPH-RSA) and total phenolic content (TPC) values than other drying methods. FD500 had the highest iron chelating ability (ICA) value. Oven-dried (OD) EP at 60°C had the highest reducing power. Dried EP was added to sausages of six groups: control without EP, reference added with ascorbic acid, O1 and O2 added with 0.25% and 0.5% OD EP, respectively, and F1 and F2 added with 0.25% and 0.5% FD EP, respectively. Pork sausages added with O2 had the lowest TBARS and TPC values. These values increased during storage. Purge loss (%), lightness (L*), and redness (a*) values of F2 were lower than those of other groups, whereas sausages containing F2 had the highest yellowness (b*). pH values of sausages added with EP were increased regardless of the level of EP added. Hardness values of F2 were higher. However, there were no significant differences in other textural characteristics. Sausages added with EP had higher moisture and protein contents (%), but lower fat contents (%). These results indicate that EP powder could be used to retard lipid oxidation and inhibit microbial counts during storage time.

Total and Partial Fat Replacement by Gelled Emulsion (Hemp Oil and Buckwheat Flour) and Its Impact on the Chemical, Technological and Sensory Properties of Frankfurters

A gelled emulsion (GE) prepared with hemp oil and buckwheat flour was used to replace pork back fat in frankfurters. Five different formulations were prepared: control (with 35% pork back fat—SC), and the following four to achieve 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% pork back fat substitution by GE (S1, S2, S3, and S4, respectively). Nutritional, technological, and sensorial characteristics of frankfurters were evaluated. Sausages containing GE presented a lower total fat content with a higher amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids, increased omega 3 content, and reduced saturated fat by up to 55%. The incorporation of GE did not significantly modify technological properties such as emulsion stability or lipid oxidation in spite of using vegetable oils highly susceptible to oxidation. The reformulation of the frankfurters presented a greater effect on the texture and sensory properties when GE was used as total substitution for the pork back fat (S4). When GE was used only as partial substitution for the pork back fat, sausages similar to control frankfurter were obtained. So this study demonstrated that the use of GE could be a promising strategy in the reformulation of healthier meat products.

Quality of reduced-fat meat emulsion: effect of pre-emulsified duck skin and hydrocolloids

This study explored the impact of reduced-fat meat emulsion with pre-emulsified duck skin and hydrocolloids on physicochemical properties such as cooking loss, emulsion stability, apparent viscosity, protein solubility, and texture profile analysis. Six different reduced-fat meat emulsions were produced: control (pork back fat), T1 (duck skin, DS), T2 (pre-emulsified with duck skin, PDS), T3 (PDS + 2% carrageenan), T4 (PDS + 2% alginate), T5 (PDS + 2% pectin), and T6 (PDS + 2% guar gum). Moisture content, protein content, yellowness, and apparent viscosity of reduced-fat emulsion with PDS and hydrocolloids were all higher (P < 0.05) than control. Cooking loss and emulsion stability of T4 and T6 were lower (P < 0.05) than the control values. Cooking loss and total fluid separation were greatest (P < 0.05) for T5. Fat content of reduced-fat emulsion with PDS was lower (P < 0.05) than that of the control. Meat emulsion comprising PDS with alginate resulted in superior physicochemical properties compared to the other reduced-fat meat emulsion.

Sensory Analysis and Consumer Research in New Meat Products Development

This review summarises the main sensory methods (traditional techniques and the most recent ones) together with consumer research as a key part in the development of new products, particularly meat products. Different types of sensory analyses (analytical and affective), from conventional methods (Quantitative Descriptive Analysis) to new rapid sensory techniques (Check All That Apply, Napping, Flash Profile, Temporal Dominance of Sensations, etc.) have been used as crucial techniques in new product development to assess the quality and marketable feasibility of the novel products. Moreover, an important part of these new developments is analysing consumer attitudes, behaviours, and emotions, in order to understand the complex consumer–product interaction. In addition to implicit and explicit methodologies to measure consumers’ emotions, the analysis of physiological responses can also provide information of the emotional state a food product can generate. Virtual reality is being used as an instrument to take sensory analysis out of traditional booths and configure conditions that are more realistic. This review will help to better understand these techniques and to facilitate the choice of the most appropriate at the time of its application at the different stages of the new product development, particularly on meat products.