Cacao Pod Husk Flour as an Ingredient for Reformulating Frankfurters: Effects on Quality Properties

Agro-Industrial By-Products of Plant Origin: Therapeutic Uses as well as Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity

The importance of bioactive compounds in agro-industrial by-products of plant origin lies in their direct impacts on human health. These compounds have been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, contributing to disease prevention and strengthening the immune system. In particular, the antimicrobial action of these compounds emerges as an important tool in food preservation, providing natural alternatives to synthetic preservatives and contributing to combating antimicrobial resistance. Using agro-industrial by-products of plant origin not only addresses the need to reduce waste and promote sustainability but also inaugurates a new era in the formulation of functional foods. From fruit peels to pulps and seeds, these by-products are emerging as essential ingredients in the creation of products that can promote health. Continued research in this area will unveil new applications and properties of these by-products and open doors to a food paradigm in which health and sustainability converge, paving the way to a healthier and more equitable future. The present review presents an overview of our knowledge of agro-industrial by-products and some of their more relevant health-promoting bioactivities.

The utilisation of agricultural by-products in processed meat products: Effects on physicochemical, nutritional and sensory quality - Invited Review

Several plant-based materials are discarded by the food industry due to oversupply, lack of transport, and inappropriate storage. These materials contain valuable essential micronutrients such as minerals, vitamins and bioactive components (e.g., polyphenol, tocopherols, ascorbic acid, carotenoids) with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects, among others. In the context of making our agriculture-food based economy more circular and sustainable, and to develop foods with clean labels and less E-numbers, fruits, vegetables, yams, cereal distillers, oilseeds and other plant by-products could be utilised and upcycled back into new food formulations. Meat products are a particularly suitable matrix for this purpose, due to their susceptibility to lipid and protein oxidation and microbial spoilage (which shorten their shelf life). This review brings together the latest (2020-23) reformulation efforts, preservative methods and other innovative pathways, including studies on by-products as plant-based additives and bio-actives. It will cover the use of plant-based by-products as natural additives into production of processed meat products such as burgers, fermented meats and sausages, produced from ruminant and monogastric animals (except poultry). The extraction methods, inclusion levels, processing methods used and the quality of the resulting meat products will be reported, including preservative effects (microbial growth, oxidative stability and shelf life) and effects on instrumental, nutritional and sensory quality. Furthermore, it will also critically discuss the gaps identified, recommendation of the most promising ingredients for quality enhancement, and provide directions for future research.

New Perspectives to Enhance Wastes and By-Products from Agro-Food Processing

The exploitation of by-products and waste from the agri-food industry represents a sustainable approach within the frame of the circular economy, the basis of the European Green Deal and ecological transition [...].

Multivariate Statistical Techniques: A New Approach to Identify the Commercial Properties of Mixtures of Flours of Lentinula edodes and Cocoa Pod Husk

Lentinula edodes is known to show high nutritional and organoleptic properties and can be mixed with different by-products in the production of new foods with important functional characteristics. Cocoa pod husk (CPH) is the main by-product in the cocoa industry and presents important bioactivities. In this research, two mixtures were applied based on Lentinula edodes mushroom flour from fifty different strains (strain 1 to strain 50) and cocoa pod husk flour (CPHF): 60% Lentinula edodes mushroom flour from each strain mixed with 40% CPHF (Mixture 1), and 80% Lentinula edodes mushroom flour from each strain mixed with 20% CPHF (Mixture 2). The parameters evaluated were moisture, proteins, fat, total dietary fiber (TDF), ash, carbohydrates, antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity, pH and water activity (aw). The multivariate statistical techniques evaluated those samples that exhibited the highest degree of correlation with the distinct chemical and commercial parameters, showing that sample 13 of both mixture flours (M1 and M2) obtained by the mushrooms of L. edodes (strain 13) with CPH indicated the higher significant of the parameters. In addition, the sensory test of the best flour (sample 13) was applied to 50 panelists, presenting the best sensory characteristics, such as color, aroma, texture and general acceptability.

Optimizing vacuum drying process of polyphenols, flavanols and DPPH radical scavenging assay in pod husk and bean shell cocoa

The objective of this study was to optimize different vacuum drying conditions for cocoa pod husk and cocoa bean shell in order to enhance these by-products for commercial applications. To carry out the optimization, the response surface methodology was applied using a Box-Behnken experimental design with 15 experiments for which different conditions of temperature (X1), drying time (X2) and vacuum pressure (X3) were established. The response variables were the content of total polyphenols, the content of flavanols and the radical scavenging activity evaluated in the extracts of the different experiments. Temperature (50-70 °C), drying time (3-12 h) and vacuum pressure (50-150 mbar) were considered as independent variables. The main factors affecting the response variables were temperature, followed by vacuum pressure. For the content of polyphenols, the optimal response values predicted for the cocoa pod husk was 11.17 mg GAE/g with a confidence limit (95%) of 9.05 to 13.28 mg GAE/g (optimal conditions: 65 °C, 8 h and 75 mbar), while for the cocoa bean shell cocoa was 29.61 mg GAE/g with a confidence limit (95%) of 26.95 to 32.26 mg GAE/g (optimal conditions: 50 °C, 5 h and 100 mbar). Therefore, results of this study suggest a high content of phenolic compounds obtained from these by-products that show relevance as functional ingredients for application in the food, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical industries.

Exploring the chemical composition and coloring qualities of cacao fruit epicarp extracts

Cacao pod husks (CHs), the most abundant by-product of cacao beans production, can potentially become a source of functional ingredients for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Three pigment samples (yellow, red, and purple) from lyophilized and ground cacao pod husk epicarp (CHE), were isolated by ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction, with yields between 11 and 14 wt%. The pigments exhibited UV-Vis flavonoid-related absorption bands at 283 nm and 323 nm and, only for the purple extract, reflectance bands in the 400-700 nm range. As per the Folin-Ciocalteu method, the CHE extracts contain high yields of antioxidant phenolic compounds amounting to 161.6, 153.9, and 167.9 mg GAE per g extract for the yellow, red, and purple samples, respectively. Phloretin, quercetin, myricetin, jaceosidin, and procyanidin B1 were among the main flavonoids identified by MALDI-TOF MS. A biopolymeric bacterial-cellulose matrix can effectively retain up to 541.8 mg of CHE extract per g of cellulose in dry weight. Also, MTT assays revealed that CHE extracts are non-toxic and increase viability in cultured VERO cells.

Effect of spontaneous fermentation location on the fingerprint of volatile compound precursors of cocoa and the sensory perceptions of the end-chocolate

Cocoa pod-opening delay and bean fermentation promote the organoleptic quality of chocolate. The present research investigated the changes in the volatile fingerprint of cocoa harvested at a traditional plantation. Cocoa beans extracted from 2-days pod-opening delay were simultaneously fermented for 5 days using container and then sun-dried to 7-8% moisture content at five different locations: Akoupé, San Pedro, Soubré, Djekanou and Daloa. The aromatic analysis were done on cocoa using the HS-SPME-GC/MS technique. Professional panelists evaluated the sensory perceptions of the chocolate. The results shows that cocoa fermented in both Daloa and Soubré regions were differentiated by 2,3-butanediol while those processed in other regions presented highest acetoin content. However, fermented cocoa from Soubré region exhibited most amount of 2,3-butanediol, diacetate A whereas 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine differentiated those from Daloa region. Sensory properties of chocolate were not linked to the aromatic compound precursors profile of beans. The fermentation performed in San Pédro region promote both the generation of more desirable aromatic compounds of cocoa and sensory attributes of the finished chocolate. The fermentation location generates a greater differentiation of the volatile fingerprint of cocoa and the sensory perceptions of the finished chocolate.

Effect of drying method on the production of in vitro short-chain fatty acids and histone deacetylase mediation of cocoa pod husk

We evaluated the effect of cocoa pod husk (CPH) processing (microwave [MW], forced-air drying [FAD], and FAD plus extrusion [FAD-E]), and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the in vitro human colonic fermentation metabolism, in vitro bioactivity on human HT-29 colon cancer cell, and the in silico mechanism of selected compounds. CPH as a substrate for human colonic microbiota significantly decrease local pH (MW -0.7, FAD -0.2, and FAD-E -0.3, 24 h) and modifies their metabolic activity (short-chain fatty acids [SCFAs] production). FAD-E generated the highest butyric (7.6 mM/L, 4 h) and FAD the highest acetic and propionic acid levels (71.4 and 36.7 mM/L, 24 h). The in vitro colonic fermented FAD-E sample (FE/FAD-E) caused HT-29 colorectal cancer cells death by inducing damage on membrane integrity and inhibiting (up to 92%) histone-deacetylase (HDAC) activity. In silico results showed that chlorogenic acid, (-)-epicatechin, and (+)-catechin, followed by butyric and propionic acids, are highly involved in the HDAC6 inhibitory activity. The results highlight the potential human health postbiotic benefits of CPH consumption, mediated by colonic microbiota-derived metabolites. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The enormous amount of CPH (10 tons/1 ton of dry beans) generated by the cocoa industry can be used as a removable source of bioactive compounds with physicochemical functionality and health bioactivity. However, their potential applications and health benefits are insufficiently explored. CPH represents a serious disposal problem; practical and innovative ideas to use this highly available and affordable material are urgent. Research exploring their potential applications can increase the sustainability of the cocoa agro-industry. This paper highlights the value addition that can be achieved with this valuable industrial co-product, generating new functional products and ingredients.

Production and Physicochemical Characterization of Analog Rice Obtained from Sago Flour, Mung Bean Flour, and Corn Flour Using Hot Extrusion Technology

Extrusion technology allows the preparation of analog rice, an artificial product made of carbohydrate sources other than rice, with characteristics similar to natural rice. In this study, we aimed at determining the effect of composition and temperature on the nutritional content of analog rice obtained using heat extrusion technology. The physical properties and acceptability of the resulting product were also studied. Skim milk, sago, mung bean, and corn flour as well as the binder carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were used. The procedure was conducted in four stages: raw-material preparation, formulation, physicochemical evaluation, and sensory property evaluation. The best analog rice formula was established as 50% sago flour, 30% corn flour, 19.2% mung bean flour, 0.4% skim milk, and 0.4% CMC. The panelists’ most preferred rice analog formula was the one with the highest sago starch and skim milk content. The extrusion temperature did not significantly affect the nutrient content. However, it had a considerable impact on the thermal profile and physical properties, such as appearance and granular morphology.

Physicochemical, Oxidative Stability and Sensory Properties of Frankfurter-Type Sausage as Influenced by the Addition of Carrot (Daucus carota) Paste

This study examined the addition of carrot paste (CP) at levels of 3%, 5%, and 10% as a potential antioxidant in frankfurter-type sausages, denoted as F1, F2, and F3. F0, was a control sample with no addition of CP. All formulated samples were stored for 14 days during which their physicochemical, oxidative stability, and sensory properties were evaluated. Results showed that the pH of frankfurter-type sausages was not affected by the addition of CP, however, higher pH values were observed in CP-enriched samples on the first day of production and subsequent storage days. Cooking loss (CL) in frankfurter-type sausages was in the range of 2.20% to 2.87%, with the CP-enriched samples having a lower CL percentage, particularly F3 samples, compared to the control. Protein and fat content were lower in CP-enriched samples, but ash content increased. CP-enriched frankfurter-type sausages recorded significantly higher polyphenol contents compared to the control. Total polyphenol content in CP-enriched samples F1, F2, and F3 was higher throughout storage compared to the control. Lower peroxide values were also recorded in CP-enriched samples F1 (2.5 meq/kg), F2 (2.4 meq/kg), and F3 (2.2 meq/kg) compared to the control (2.9 meq/kg), demonstrating greater 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant activity than the control samples. Formulations treated with 10% CP gained significantly higher scores for color, texture, and overall acceptability. Principal component analysis showed that higher inclusion levels of CP in formulation improved the sensory quality and oxidative stability. In conclusion, CP could be used to enhance the oxidative stability of frankfurter-type sausage without negatively influencing the sensory quality.

The Role of Coffee Silver Skin against Oxidative Phenomena in Newly Formulated Chicken Meat Burgers after Cooking

Coffee Silver Skin (CSS) is the unique by-product discarded after the roasting of coffee beans. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of two levels of CSS (1.5% and 3%) added as a natural ingredient in new formulations of chicken meat burgers. This is one of the first studies proposing a "formulation approach" to control the emergence of off flavours after meat cooking. Physical, chemical, and sensory analyses were carried out, within the CSS content and the evolution of volatile organic compounds in different samples. Newly formulated chicken burgers could limit food waste, while also becoming a source of fibres, minerals, and bioactive molecules. CSS limited weight losses (after cooking process) to 10.50% (1.5% addition) and 11.05% (3% addition), significantly lower (p < 0.01) than the control (23.85%). In cooked burgers, the occurrence of hexanal was reduced from 55.1% (CTRL T₀) to 11.7% (CSS T₀ 1.5%) to 0 (CSS T₀ 3%). As for the limitation of off-flavours, CSS also showed good activity, contrasting with the emergence of octanal, alcohols and other markers of lipid oxidation. From the sensory test carried out, the volatile profile of CSS does not seem to impair the flavour of burgers, though at higher percentages hydrocarbons and pyrazines are traceable. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS assay confirmed the protective effect of CSS against oxidation.