Extrato de espinafre como fonte de nitrito em linguiça frescal: atributos de qualidade e estabilidade durante o armazenamento refrigerado / Spinach Extract as a source of nitrite in fresh sausages: quality attributes and stability during refrigerated storage

Introdução: Os consumidores têm inúmeras preocupações em relação à saúde, dentre as quais o consumo elevado de aditivos químicos, como os conservantes, que ao reagir com substâncias presentes nos alimentos podem produzir compostos cancerígenos. Alguns vegetais, como o espinafre, podem ser fontes naturais desses conservantes, e sua aplicação pode aumentar a saudabilidade dos produtos cárneos. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos do extrato de espinafre como fonte de nitrito para conservação de linguiças frescais, armazenadas durante 35 dias sob refrigeração. Material e Método: Quatro formulações foram produzidas: controle positivo, com sal de cura comercial (CP), controle negativo, sem sal de cura (CN), extrato de espinafre (EE) e extrato de espinafre pré-convertido por bactérias nitrato-redutoras (EEPC). As linguiças foram avaliadas através da composição centesimal, cor, teor residual de nitrito, TBARS e avaliação microbiológica. Resultados: O sal de cura (CP) resultou em menores alterações na coloração das linguiças frescais. O TBARS aumentou aproximadamente 2,5 vezes (p<0,05) ao longo dos 35 dias, em todas as formulações, e os menores valores, ao final desse período, foram encontrados nas formulações CP e EEPC. Estas mesmas formulações apresentaram os maiores teores residuais de nitrito e menor contagem de BAL e enterobactérias (35 dias), o que comprova que o EEPC é tão eficiente quanto o sal de cura comercial como conservante em linguiça frescal armazenada sob refrigeração. Conclusão: O uso de EEPC pode ser uma alternativa promissora para a indústria cárnea, possibilitando o desenvolvimento de produtos clean label que atendam à demanda por produtos mais saudáveis.

Introduction: Consumers express concerns about chemical additives in the diet, including preservatives, which can produce carcinogenic compounds when interacting with substances present in food. Some vegetables, such as spinach, can be natural sources of preservatives, and their application can increase the healthiness of meat products. Objective: To evaluate the effects of spinach extract as a source of nitrite for the preservation of fresh sausages during 35 days of refrigerated storage. Material and Method: Four formulations were produced: positive control, with commercial curing salt (CP), negative control, without curing salt (CN), spinach extract (EE) and spinach extract pre-converted by nitrate-reducing bacteria (EEPC). The sausages were evaluated for proximate composition, color parameters, residual nitrite content, TBARS, and microbiological characterization. Results: The curing salt (CP) led to a few changes in the color of the fresh sausages. TBARS increased approximately 2.5 times (p<0.05) during the 35 days for all formulations, and the lowest values were found for the formulations CP and EEPC at the end of the storage. These formulations had the highest residual nitrite levels and the lowest LAB and enterobacteria count (35 days), which proves that EEPC is an effective preservative to replace commercial curing salt in fresh sausages subjected to refrigerated storage. Conclusion: The use of EEPC can be a promising alternative for the meat industry, enabling the development of clean-label products that meet the demand for healthier products.

Japanese grape (Hovenia dulcis) powder as an antioxidant agent in Bologna sausages.

BACKGROUND: The Japanese grape (Hovenia dulcis Thunberg) has potential as an antioxidant due to its high content of phenolic compounds in the early maturation stages. In this study, the antioxidant sodium erythorbate (CONTROL) was replaced by Japanese grape pseudofruits dehydrated by freeze-drying (FDP) and oven drying (OP), in Bologna sausages. The commercial natural antioxidant licresse (LS), based on licorice, has also been studied. RESULTS: No significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed for the proximate composition and the texture profile of the Bologna sausages. An increase in pH was observed during storage for all formulations. At 28 days, the treatments FDP and OP were darker (lower L* values) and less red (lower a* values), possibly due to the presence of tannins in these samples, which may have bound with the iron present in myoglobin and minimized the oxidation reactions. The use of different antioxidants affected the nitrite contents of the Bologna sausages during storage. Regarding the lipid oxidation, the Japanese grape powder was more effective in delaying the oxidation reactions in Bologna sausages after 14 and 21 days of storage when compared to LS and the CONTROL, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Japanese grape powders were effective in retarding the lipid oxidation of Bologna sausages, possibly due to the presence of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, tannins, and ascorbic acid, showing the potential of these pseudofruits as antioxidants for use in meat products. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Incorporation of natural and mechanically ruptured brewing yeast cells in beef burger to replace textured soy protein.

The use of brewer`s yeast to replace textured soy protein (TSP) in burgers was investigated. Three formulations were made, corresponding to a control formulation with 4% TSP, a formulation containing 4% yeast cells in their natural state, and a formulation made with 4% mechanically ruptured yeast cells, which were characterized for the chemical, technological, and sensory properties. Significant differences were observed for pH and instrumental color between the formulations, with no changes in the visual color evaluation by the untrained assessors. The addition of yeast cells resulted in a higher cooking yield and lower reduction in diameter, contributing to maintaining the shape and juiciness of burgers, which is a positive aspect from the technological point of view. The TSP-based formulation presented higher overall appearance and flavor scores when compared with the other formulations, with no significant differences for the other sensory attributes. The results showed that debittering of yeast-cell biomass is required to remove hop resins and tannins before using in burgers, aimed to improve the product`s acceptance and the purchase intent. The debittered yeast cell biomass can be used in burger formulations with great potential to replace TSP, as an alternative to obtain a free allergen meat product.

Staling kinetics of whole wheat pan bread.

Understanding the staling process of whole grain breads, especially in relation to the increase in firmness, can contribute to optimize the shelf life of these products. The aim of this work was to develop an equation (staling rate) capable of estimating the increase in firmness of whole wheat pan breads. The staling rate (K) demonstrated that the greater the bran content, the greater the increase in bread firmness (from 0.011 day-1 for 0% replacement, to 0.174 day-1 and 0.091 day-1 for 30% replacement of fine and coarse bran, respectively). Thereby, we established an equation to estimate the firmness of whole wheat pan bread on a given day, considering the concentration of bran in the formulation, thus helping baking industries to predict bread behavior during storage and optimize the use of additives.

Classification of whole wheat flour using a dimensionless number.

The rheological standards currently used for classifying refined wheat flour for technological quality of bread are also used for whole wheat flours. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rheological and technological behavior of different whole wheat flours, as well as pre-mixes of refined wheat flour with different replacement levels of wheat bran, to develop a dimensionless number that assigns a numerical scale using results of rheological parameters to solve this problem. Through farinograph and extensograph results, most whole wheat flours evaluated presented parameters recommended for bread making, according to the current classification. However, the specific volume of breads elaborated with these flours was not suitable, that is, the rheological analyses were not able to predict the specific volume of pan bread. The development of the Sehn-Steel dimensionless number allowed establishing a classification of whole wheat flours as "suitable" (Sehn-Steel dimensionless number between 62 and 200) or "unsuitable" for the production of pan bread (Sehn-Steel dimensionless number lower than 62). Moreover, an equation that can predict the specific volume of whole pan bread through this dimensionless number was developed.

Efeito da qualidade microbiológica da água do sistema de pré-resfriamento, nas condições higiênico-sanitárias das carcaças de frango / Effect of microbiological water quality and sanitary conditions of chicken carcasses

Nos últimos anos tem ocorrido um grande crescimento no consumo e na produção de carne de frango no país. Isso resulta num aumento do consumo de recursos naturais utilizados pelos abatedouros, o que vem de encontro à crescente preocupação das pessoas e autoridades com relação aos recursos naturais cada vez mais escassos. De acordo com a Portaria Nº 210 de 10 de novembro de 1998 do Ministério da Agricultura Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA), a água dos tanques de resfriamento (chiller) deve ser trocada a cada oito horas de abate ou a juízo do Serviço de Inspeção Federal (SIF). A empresa, onde foi realizado o presente trabalho, com autorização do SIF, realiza esta troca uma vez ao dia.(...) Este trabalho buscou avaliar a real necessidade de realizar a troca da água do sistema de pré-resfriamento de oito em oito horas, através de análises de micro-organismos mesófilos, psicrotróficos, coliformes totais e termotolerantes das carcaças de frango e da água da saída do sistema de pré-resfriamento. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as carcaças de frango não apresentam contaminação por coliformes termotolerantes ao longo das 18 horas de abate, ao contrário da água do sistema de pré-resfriamento, a qual agrega qualquer tipo de contaminação, principalmente e de coliformes termotolerantes, que pode estar presente na carcaça de frango. A partir dos resultados expostos conclui-se que o texto da Portaria Nº210 do MAPA deve ser alterado, e que essas alterações contemplem o esvaziamento dos equipamentos utilizados no pré-resfriamento e a higienização apenas uma vez ao dia ou a critério do SIF.