Effects of replacing pork backfat with emulsified vegetable oil on fatty acid composition and quality of UK-style sausages.

Rapeseed and sunflower oil were used to replace pork backfat in UK-style sausages by incorporating the oils as pre-formed emulsions. Replacing the pork backfat emulsion with rapeseed emulsion at total fat content of about 12%, reduced total saturated fatty acid (SFA) composition from 38% to 14% (4.5 to 1.8 g/100 g), increased monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) composition from 45% to 59% and increased polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition from 15% to 25%. Partial replacement of pork backfat with rapeseed at a fat content of about 20% reduced SFA from 38% to 24% (7.2 to 4.8 g/100 g). There were no significant differences in eating quality and overall liking other than slight differences in the attributes 'firmness' and 'particle size'. Improvement in the fatty acid composition was achieved without adversely affecting colour shelf life or lipid oxidation. The study suggests that a substantial reduction in SFA can be achieved by incorporating 'healthy' oils in UK-style sausages without adversely affecting eating quality or shelf life.

Colour, pH and weight changes of PSE, normal and DFD breast fillets from British broilers treated with a phosphate-free, low salt marinade.

1. Colour (L*, a*, b*), pH and weight changes during tumbling, overnight holding and cooking were measured in pale, soft and exudative (PSE, L* > 58); normal; and dark, firm and dry (DFD, L* < 52) broiler breast fillets (n = 180) subject to tumbling in a low salt (4%), phosphate-free marinade at three target addition levels: 0, 10 and 20%. 2. The mean L* values for PSE, normal and DFD fillets were 60·1, 56·0 and 51·7 respectively, with corresponding mean pH values of 5·73, 5·85 and 6·07. 3. There were no significant differences in marinade uptake during tumbling for the three groups of fillets. Losses during overnight holding were highest for the PSE fillets, but losses for all three colour groups were relatively small (<2%). 4. Cooking losses for fillets of normal colour were 19·7, 24·1 and 26·2% at 0, 10 and 20% addition levels respectively, with corresponding yields of 80·3, 82·8 and 84·8%. 5. PSE fillets had higher cooking losses and lower yields than normal fillets (and DFD fillets had lower cooking losses and higher yields than normal fillets) but the differences were small and not always significant (P < 0·05). 6. There was a strong negative correlation between pH and L* (r = -0·82) in the raw fillets, but weaker correlations of yield with L* (r = -0·53) and pH (r = 0·38) in the cooked fillets.

Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy: an effective asthma treatment option?

This 12-month dose-titration study assessed the effectiveness of budesonide/formoterol for maintenance plus relief with a control group using salmeterol/fluticasone for maintenance plus salbutamol for relief. Adolescents and adults (n = 2,143; mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 73% predicted; mean inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) 884 microg.day(-1)) were randomised to budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5 microg two inhalations b.i.d. plus additional inhalations as needed, or salmeterol/fluticasone 50/250 microg b.i.d. plus salbutamol as needed. Treatment was prescribed open label; after 4 weeks, physicians could titrate maintenance doses in accordance with normal clinical practice. Maintenance plus as-needed budesonide/formoterol prolonged the time to first severe exacerbation versus salmeterol/fluticasone (25% risk reduction). The total number of severe exacerbations was significantly reduced in the budesonide/formoterol group (255 versus 329). Both regimens provided sustained improvements in symptoms, as-needed use, quality of life and FEV1, with differences in favour of the budesonide/formoterol group for as-needed use (0.58 versus 0.93 inhalations.day(-1)) and FEV1 (post-beta2-agonist values). Mean ICS dose during treatment was similar in both groups (653 microg budesonide.day(-1) (maintenance plus as-needed) versus 583 microg fluticasone.day(-1)). The simplified strategy using budesonide/formoterol for maintenance and reliever therapy is feasible, safe and at least as effective as salmeterol/fluticasone plus salbutamol.