Use of native pea starches as an alternative to modified corn starch in low-fat bologna.

In an attempt to explore alternative ingredients that satisfy emerging consumers demand for clean label products, we investigated the impact of pea starches on functional properties, textural and eating quality of low-fat (LF) bologna. LF bologna processed without binder (control) was compared to formulations supplemented with modified corn starch (MCS) or one of two pea starches: air classified pea starch (ACPS) and wet extracted pea starch (WEPS). Although not as effective as corn starch, addition of pea starches reduced cook loss and improved water holding capacity of LF bologna sausage (P < 0.05). Generally, pea starches contributed to higher chewiness and hardness in LF bologna (P < 0.05). However, instrumental colour parameters as well as sensory attributes of LF bologna type sausages were only minimally impacted by the addition of starches. The current study revealed that pea starch addition to LF bologna could be beneficial for meat processors given that its effect on sensory attributes is only marginal when compared to other conventional binders.

The effect of glucosamine and glucosamine caramel on quality and consumer acceptability of regular and reduced salt breakfast sausages.

Given the more recent interest in its flavour enhancing potential, the effects of the addition of glucosamine or glucosamine caramel on both technological and consumer acceptability of regular and reduced salt breakfast sausages were studied. A 2 × 3 complete factorial design was used with salt level (regular salt, RS (1.1%) and low salt, LS (0.825%)) and formulation treatment (control, GlcN - glucosamine (1%), CAR - glucosamine caramel (1% GlcN equivalent)) as main effects. Raw or cooked sausages were analyzed for CIE L*, a* and b*, physical and textural properties and consumer acceptance. Different salt levels did not affect the pH of meat batter, while the reduced salt treatment resulted in higher cook loss. On the contrary, addition of GlcN and CAR reduced the pH of sausage with no effect on cook loss. Neither salt levels nor treatment formulation affected the textural attributes of sausages. The inclusion of CAR significantly reduced L* value and increased redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) of cooked sausages. Salt reduction resulted in decreased a* and b* values in raw batter; the effect which disappeared in cooked sausages. Glucosamine caramel increased the overall and flavour acceptability score of low salt breakfast sausages. The present study showed that glucosamine caramel could potentially improve the flavour of low salt breakfast sausage with limited effect on textural attributes.

Utilization of pea starch and fibre fractions for replacement of wheat crumb in beef burgers.

Beef burgers (22% fat) were formulated to contain 5% of pea starch (PS), pea fibre (PF) or their combinations (PS:PF; 75:25, 50:50, 25:75). Wheat crumb treatment served as control. Incorporation of pea fractions into burgers did not affect (P > .05) the colour of fresh burgers or the colour stability over 5 days of storage. All burger treatments containing pea fibre had lower (P < .05) cook loss than those formulated with wheat crumb or pea starch. Wheat crumb burgers were significantly (P < .05) softer, less cohesive and chewy than treatments with pea starch and fibre fractions. While panelist feedback suggest that 50:50 blend resulted in optimal firmness and juiciness characteristics, the acceptability mean scores of all pea starch and pea fibre blends were equivalent to wheat crumb control for all attributes which suggests that all combinations of pea starch and fibre can be utilized as gluten free alternatives to wheat crumb for meat binder applications without any detrimental impact on consumer acceptability.

Potential of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in predicting pork belly softness.

Pork bellies (n = 198) were scanned with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Visible and near-infrared reflectance (Vis-NIR) spectra were collected from the lean (latissimus dorsi), subcutaneous fat and intermuscular fat layers. Belly-flop angle and subjective belly scores were collected as measures of pork belly softness. Vis-NIR spectra from a single fat layer could explain between 72.7 and 81.1% of the variation in pork belly softness (43.6-72.4% in validation set). The combination of the lean and subcutaneous layers improved the calibration model fit to 79.7-99.9% (66.3-71.5% in validation set). The DXA estimates explained 62.3% of variation in pork belly softness (65.2% in validation set). Results indicated that DXA and NIR technologies could potentially be utilized for pork belly softness sorting in the pork industry.

Influence of cooking methods and storage time on lipid and protein oxidation and heterocyclic aromatic amines production in bacon.

This study aimed to examine the influence of cooking methods and pre-determined refrigerated storage days on the production of lipid oxidation (TBARS), protein oxidation (PROTOX) and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAA) in bacon. Forty-four pork bellies selected from pigs varying in breed, sex and diets to introduce variability in composition were processed as bacon. Sliced-bacon was stored at 4°C either for 2 or 28days and these storage groups were cooked either with microwave or frying pan. Microwave led to significantly higher PROTOX (P<0.001), while frying pan led to higher levels of HAA and TBARS in bacon (P<0.001). Frying pan cooking increased the saltiness and crispiness of bacon (P<0.05) whereas other sensory attributes were not affected (P>0.05) by the cooking methods and storage times. Similarly, the fatty acid composition of pork belly did not significantly influence the production of HAA, TBARS and PROTOX produced in bacon during cooking. Overall, microwave cooking had lesser impact on the production of carcinogenic compounds in bacon with only minor impact on sensory attributes.

Compositional and dimensional factors influencing pork belly firmness.

We explored various dimensional and compositional factors that can influence the perception of pork belly firmness. Bellies from 198 pigs of three different genotypes, two sexes, two slaughter weights and three different diets were recovered and belly firmness was assessed using the belly-flop angle and a 5-point scale subjective measurement. Dimensional and compositional factors were recorded on intact and sheet-ribbed bellies. Subjective belly score was negatively correlated with belly-flop angle (r=-0.89). Regression analysis accounted for 77 and 83% of the variability in subjective belly firmness and belly-flop angle measurement, respectively. Belly length, weight and width influenced both measures of belly firmness, but these effects were more important for the belly-flop angle. After correcting flop angle using belly length, the effect of belly weight disappeared and the effect of other traits was more like those observed for subjective scoring. Hence, undue effect of belly length should be corrected for if this set-up is to be implemented in commercial plants.

Accuracy of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in assessing carcass composition from different pig populations.

The accuracy of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in assessing carcass composition from pigs with diverse characteristics was examined in the present study. A total of 648 pigs from three different sire breeds, two sexes, two slaughter weights and three different diets were employed. DXA estimations were used to predict the dissected/chemical yield for lean and fat of carcass sides and primal cuts. The accuracy of the predictions was assessed based on coefficient of determination (R(2)) and residual standard deviation (RSD). The linear relationships for dissected fat and lean for all the primal cuts and carcass sides were high (R(2)>0.94, P<0.01), with low RSD (<1.9%). Relationships between DXA and chemical fat and lean of pork bellies were also high (R(2)>0.94, P<0.01), with RSD <2.9%. These linear relationships remained high over the full range of variation in the pig population, except for sire breed, where the coefficient of determination decreased when carcasses were classified based on this variable.

Protein Oxidation in Processed Meat: Mechanisms and Potential Implications on Human Health.

Processed meats represent a large percentage of muscle foods consumed in the western world. Various processing steps affect the physicochemical properties of the meat, compromise its nutritional components, or produce some compounds that are of health concern. Hence, the impact of oxidation on human health and the aging process and the influence of diet on these harmful reactions are of growing interest. Past decades have seen more focus on lipid oxidation, microbial deterioration, and pathogenicity, as well as production of carcinogenic compounds during meat processing. The oxidation of protein, which is a major component in meat systems, has received less attention. Protein oxidation has been defined as a covalent modification of protein induced either directly by reactive species or indirectly by reaction with secondary by-products of oxidative stress. Not only are these modifications critical for technological and sensory properties of muscle foods, they may have implications on human health and safety when consumed. Cooking, for example, has been observed to increase free radical generation while it also decreases the antioxidant protection systems in meat, both of which contribute to protein oxidation. Many other meat processing techniques, as well as other emerging technologies, may significantly affect protein oxidation and protein overall quality. This paper explores the current understanding of meat processing techniques and their possible effects on the status of protein oxidation and nutritional value, as well as their possible implications on human health.