Fatty Acid Composition of Salami Made by Meat from Different Commercial Categories of Indigenous Dairy Cattle

Microbial dynamics and quality characteristics of spontaneously fermented salamis produced by replacing pork fat with avocado pulp

The aim of this study was to develop a novel and healthier fermented meat product by replacing pork fat with avocado pulp (AVP) during salami production. Experimental salamis were produced under laboratory conditions by substituting pork fat with AVP partially (10-AVP) and totally (20-AVP), while control salamis (CTR) remained AVP-free. The microbial composition of control and experimental salamis was assessed using a combined culture-dependent and -independent approach. Over a 20-days ripening period, lactic acid bacteria, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and yeasts dominated the microbial community, with approximate levels of 9.0, 7.0 and 6.0 log CFU/g, respectively. Illumina technology identified 26 taxonomic groups, with leuconostocs being the predominant group across all trials [constituting 31.26-59.12 % of relative abundance (RA)]. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed changes in fatty acid composition and volatile organic compounds due to the substitution of pork fat with AVP. Specifically, monounsaturated fatty acids and terpene compounds increased, while saturated fatty acids and lipid oxidation products decreased. Although AVP influenced the sensory characteristics of the salamis, the highest overall satisfaction ratings were observed for the 10-AVP salamis. Consequently, substituting pork fat with AVP emerges as a viable strategy for producing healthier salamis and diversifying the meat product portfolio.

A New Insight on Carcass and Meat Quality in Ruminants

Ruminant production systems are very important in many areas of the world and a key aspect of the economy and culture [...].

Fatty Acids as Biomarkers of the Production Season of Caciocavallo Palermitano Cheese

Simple Summary

In the Mediterranean environment, climatic variability determines a discontinuity in the forage availability of pastures. Caciocavallo Palermitano is a cheese obtained from the milk of the Cinisara cattle breed, mainly raised on pasture. The present study investigated the fatty acid profile of cheeses produced in two typical farms in the four seasons of the year, with the aim of identifying specific fatty acids that can be used as biomarkers to discriminate the productions obtained in the different seasons, in order to economically enhance those seasonal productions that have better health characteristics. The results revealed the possibility of distinguishing spring productions from those of other seasons on the basis of the higher content of some fatty acids deriving from grazing fresh forage, the availability of which is greater in spring. Further studies should be conducted to also evaluate the possibility of using fatty acids as biomarkers of different diets.

Abstract

This experiment aims to evaluate the potential of fatty acids (FA) of Caciocavallo Palermitano cheese as biomarkers of production season and pasture-based diet. A total of 48 cheeses were made in the four seasons with milk from two farms that raised cows of Cinisara breed. The animals were fed on pasture with supplementation of wheat bran and wheat straw in the barn, and in summer also with Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes. The chemical composition and FA profile of cheese were influenced by the season and not by the farm. In particular, cheeses produced in spring were characterized by higher protein and lower fat, and showed higher contents in trans-vaccenic acid, α-linolenic acid, rumenic acid, n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), and total PUFA. In winter, the lower availability of grazing forage, requiring a higher level of feeding integration, was responsible for an increase of saturated FA (SFA). The multivariate analysis distinguished clearly the cheeses made in winter and spring, while those produced in autumn and summer showed some overlapping points. Further investigations should be carried out to evaluate the effects of type and level of feeding integration on the presence of FA more suitable to be used as biomarkers of period and diet.