The correlation among residual nitrites, biogenic amines, N-nitrosamine formation, and degradation occurrence of punicalagin α/β, rosmarinic acid, carnosol, and carnosic acid in extract-treated sausage during storage

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between residual α- and β-punicalagin in Punica granatum L.; PPE and rosmarinic acid, carnosol, and carnosic acid in Salvia eremophila (SE) with residual nitrites, biogenic amines (cadaverine, putrescine, and histamine), N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), microbial counts, lipid oxidation indices, and color values in extract-treated sausage over 14 days of storage. Sausage containing SE + nitrite 60 ppm (SSN) showed minimum levels of the residual nitrites (13.14 mg/kg), NDMA (0.74 ± 0.05 μg/kg), and biogenic amine (histamine, 1.8 mg/kg; cadaverine, 3.7 mg/kg; and putrescine, 4.3 mg/kg) due to retarded degradation rate of 285.84-216.44 mg/kg; rosmarinic acid, 41.62-33.16 mg/kg; carnosol, and 88.70-76.73 mg/kg; carnosic acid over storage time. The first-order kinetic model fitted well for the degradation of rosmarinic acid and carnosol acid in SSN sample. TBA value remained below the threshold limit (0.32 mg kg-1) through 14 days for SSN. Second-order and zero-order reaction models had the best agreement with sausages' PV and TBA values, respectively. After 2 weeks of storage, E. coli and Cl. perfringens counts in the SN120 (sausage containing 120 ppm nitrite) and SSN were significantly lower than the other samples (p < .05), with the values 2.1 and 1.5 log cfu/g for SN120 and 2.2 and 1.6 log cfu/g for SSN formulation. Conversely, oxidation indices, residual nitrites, NDMA, and biogenic amine increased in sausage samples containing PPE extracts (SPN) owing to total degradation of α- and β-punicalagin during storage. The results indicated that SE can be used as potential co-preservative by reducing the levels of required nitrite in food industry.

An overview of the natural antimicrobial alternatives for sheep meat preservation

Sheep meat is consumed and appreciated all over the world for its nutritional value and flavor. However, this meat is very perishable and easily subjected to the action of both spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. For this reason, in combination with cold storage, effective preservation techniques are required. There is increasing interest in the application of natural antimicrobials, such as essential oils, extracts, spices, and by-products of the food industry. This review analyses the studies on natural antimicrobials in sheep meat and sheep meat products and gathers evidence about the encouraging results achieved on the reduction and/or elimination of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. The use of these natural antimicrobial alternatives might open up important perspectives for industrial application, considering that this specific meat is often traded over long distances. In fact, on the basis of scientific literature, natural antimicrobials can be considered a sustainable and affordable alternative to extend the shelf life of sheep meat and guarantee its safety, although many factors need to be further investigated, such as the sensory impact, potential toxicity, and economic aspects. For all these issues, investigated in some of the studies reviewed here, it is fundamental to obtain the antimicrobial effect with the minimum amount of effective substance to avoid sensory modifications, toxic effects, and unbearable costs. This study sets foundations for the possible direction of future studies, which will contribute to identify effective solutions for industrial applications of natural antimicrobials in the sheep meat industry.

Effect of Addition of Fermented Soy Sauce on Quality Characteristics of Pork Patties during Refrigerated Storage

This study aimed to determine whether fermented soy sauce has a mutually synergistic effect on the quality and storage properties of pork patties, and to investigate the effects on the availability and physicochemical properties of various taste ingredients of soy sauce, a traditional Korean food ingredient. The experimental groups were as follows: Control (−): No additives; Control (+): 0.1% ascorbic acid; T1: 1% fermented soy sauce; T2: 3% fermented soy sauce; T3: 5% fermented soy sauce. No significant difference was detected in moisture, protein, and fat among the various treatment groups; however, ash content and water holding capacity increased and texture properties improved with the concentration of fermented soy sauce. The addition of fermented soy sauce during refrigerated storage for 10 days showed a positive effect on the storage properties. The peroxide value, content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and total phenolics, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity differed significantly in pork patties with different treatments and storage intervals. The effect of fermented soy sauce on the overall quality and storage properties of pork patties during refrigerated storage is relatively unknown. These findings demonstrate that the addition of fermented soy sauce improves the quality properties and antioxidant activity of pork patties.

Sheep and Goat Meat Processed Products Quality: A Review

Even though sheep and goat processed meat products are not as popular as pork, beef or poultry and are generally considered not as important, they have a very important role in meat consumption around the world. A concise review of the origin and type of the most important sheep and goat processed meat products produced in different countries and world regions is made. The manuscript also summarizes the most recent studies on sheep and goat processed meats on the physicochemical characterizations, sensory quality, microbiological quality and safety. Some conclusions and future trends in production, processing and commercial potentiality for sheep and goat processed meat products are discussed. Several possibilities exist to make them more diversified and appealing to the market. Processing meat from culled animals is an interesting way to value animals with low market acceptability. Some as fermented sausages, cured legs and pâtés have great commercial potential as highly acceptable consumer commodities. An interesting field of food research is the rediscovery of a new generation of goat and sheep meat products as functional foods that will respond to the constant innovation required by the meat industry. Everything related to food safety must be considered in the future.

A chitosan-based edible film with clove essential oil and nisin for improving the quality and shelf life of pork patties in cold storage

This study assessed chitosan (CS)-based edible films with clove essential oil (CO) and nisin (NI) singly or in combination, for improving quality and shelf life of pork patties stored in cold conditions. The treatments were control (without chitosan film coating), CS, CS-CO, CS-NI, and CS-CO-NI, and these were tested for physicochemical, microbiological and sensory qualities for 15 days (3 days per interval) on samples in cold storage (4 ± 2 °C). Overall, the results showed that the lightness (L* value) (53.47 to 67.58), yellowness (b* value) (1.32 to 2.88), pH (5.31 to 7.98), metmyoglobin (MetMb) content (54.10 to 63.36%), free fatty acid (FFA) (0.67 to 3.17%), peroxide value (PV) (0.80 to 3.67 milliequivalent/100 g), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (0.69 to 3.27 mg MDA per kg), total viable count (TVC) (2.97 to 7.63 log CFU g-1), psychotrophic bacteria count (psychrotrophs) (2.94 to 6.59 log CFU g-1), Enterobacteriaceae (2.59 to 6.57 log CFU g-1), lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (2.53 to 6.81 log CFU g-1) and sensory scores (red non-discolored part (1 to 4.70), discoloration (1 to 4.40) and off-odor (1 to 5.00)) were gradually increased during storage and whereas redness (a* value) (16.43 to 8.62) and redness index (12.54 to 3.01) were decreased. However, the quality changes were minimal in the pork patties treated with CS-CO-NI. Based on sensory and microbiological evaluations, the shelf life of treated pork patties was 6 days for control, 9 days for CS and CS-NI, and 12 days for CS-CO and CS-CO-NI.

Incorporation of pomegranate rind powder extract and pomegranate juice into frozen burgers: oxidative stability, sensorial and microbiological characteristics

This study was aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant characteristics of incorporated pomegranate juice (PJ) and pomegranate rind powder extract (PRPE) into meat burgers. The peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and metmyoglobin content for different burgers during 90 days storage at - 18 °C were evaluated. Total anthocyanin content, total phenolic content (TPC) and free radical scavenging activity (RSA or IC50) for PJ and PRPE were measured as 18.90 (mg/mL), 4380 ppm, 0.136 (mg/mL) and 0.40 (mg/mL), 5598 ppm, 0.084(mg/mL), respectively. Incorporation of PRPE with a high concentration of TPC resulted in less oxidation of lipid in comparison with other formulations. The highest and lowest scores in the sensory analysis and total acceptance at the 90th day corresponded to burgers containing PJ and control, respectively. Butylated hydroxytoluene may be substituted in whole or part with PJ and PRPE due to their desired effects on burgers' properties.

Lipid Oxidation, Color Changes, and Microbiological Quality of Frozen Beef Burgers Incorporated with Shirazi Thyme, Cinnamon, and Rosemary Extracts

In this study, the oxidative stability of beef burgers incorporated with Shirazi thyme, cinnamon, and rosemary extracts was compared with that of BHT-incorporated and antioxidant-free samples. The chemical composition, TBARS, metmyoglobin, pH, color, and microbial and sensory characteristics were evaluated during storage at −18°C for 2 months. The results indicated that Shirazi thyme and cinnamon extracts did not change the colorimetric properties significantly (P<0.05). Incorporating natural antioxidants led to a significant (P<0.05) reduction in TBARS (36.58–46.34%) and metmyoglobin (16.25–18.47%) as compared to control. Except for the control sample, total microbial counts of burgers were lower than the maximum allowed limit. Burgers formulated with Shirazi thyme revealed the lowest amount of total count. Regarding the sensory characteristics, the overall acceptability of different samples decreased in the order of cinnamon > BHT > Shirazi thyme > rosemary > control. Finally, the results showed that these plant extracts can be utilized as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants in formulation of burgers.