Do carcass traits influence consumer perception of pork eating quality?

The objective of this study was to assess carcass traits' influence on pork eating quality as evaluated by consumers. A total of 1360 pork chops were used, with 824 from the sirloin end and 536 from the butt end of the loin (Longissimuss thoracis et lumborum), to produce 340 packages, each containing four pork chops. Untrained participants received one package of either sirloin or butt chops, being two pork chops from barrows and two from gilts. Participants answered a survey rating the tenderness, juiciness, flavour, and overall acceptability of each chop on an 8-point scale. Correlation analysis was conducted between carcass traits and pork eating quality attributes. For the descriptive analysis, classes (low, medium, and high) for carcass traits, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and cooking loss were created based on our consumer responses dataset for palatability attributes. No significant correlations (P > 0.05) were observed between carcass traits and pork eating quality traits. Tenderness and overall acceptability were negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with cooking loss and WBSF. Loin intramuscular fat (IMF) content showed a weak negative correlation (P < 0.05) with WBSF and cooking loss. Consumers rated chops from the high and medium/high backfat thickness and loin IMF classes slightly higher for tenderness and juiciness, respectively. Additionally, chops from the low and/or medium WBSF and cooking loss classes received slightly higher scores for tenderness and juiciness than pork chops in the high classes. In conclusion, the study indicated that carcass traits had minimal impact on overall acceptability of pork by consumers.

Phosphate alternatives for meat processing and challenges for the industry: A critical review.

Meat and meat products provide high levels of nutrition and many health benefits to consumers, yet a controversy exists regarding the use of non-meat additives, such as the inorganic phosphates that are commonly used in meat processing, and particularly their relationship to cardiovascular health and kidney complications. Inorganic phosphates are salts of phosphoric acid (e.g., sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, or calcium phosphate), whereas organic phosphates are ester compounds (e.g., the phospholipids found in cell membranes). In this sense, the meat industry remains active in its efforts to improve formulations for processed meat products with the use of natural ingredients. Despite efforts to improve formulations, many processed meat products still contain inorganic phosphates, which are used for their technological contributions to meat chemistry including improvements in water-holding capacity and protein solubilization. This review provides a thorough evaluation of phosphate substitutes in meat formulations and other processing technologies that can help eliminate phosphates from the formulations of processed meat products. In general, several ingredients have been evaluated as replacements for inorganic phosphates with varying degrees of success such as plant-based ingredients (e.g., starches, fibers, or seeds), fungi ingredients (e.g., mushrooms and mushroom extracts), algae ingredients, animal-based ingredients (e.g., meat/seafood, dairy, or egg materials), and inorganic compounds (i.e., minerals). Although these ingredients have shown some favorable effects in certain meat products, none have exactly matched the many functions of inorganic phosphates, so the support of extrinsic technologies, such as tumbling, ultrasound, high-pressure processing (HPP), and pulsed electric field (PEF), may be necessary to achieve similar physiochemical properties as conventional products. The meat industry should continue to investigate ways to scientifically innovate the formulations of, and the technologies used in, processed meat products while also listening to (and acting upon) the feedback from consumers.

A Year Following the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Existing Challenges and Ways the Food Industry Has Been Impacted.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant impacts for nearly all industrial and societal sectors in the world. As closures and social distancing mandates were implemented to help control the spread of the novel coronavirus designated as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the food industry was immensely affected. This review explores the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food supply chain from a multi-disciplinary viewpoint and provides perspectives on the consequences on food safety and food security, a risk assessment on human-animal interactions, and considers logistical/protocol adjustments required for the food industry. While foodborne transmission of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is not a significant factor for food safety as direct transmission of the virus through food products is not evident, food security has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic threatens food accessibility, especially for vulnerable populations of people, through its effects on food cost and infrastructure, food distribution and public transit access, and social inequities. Currently, global interest for COVID-19 is focused on human health and rightfully so, but adverse effects on the food supply chain are already evident and will likely continue to occur for several years after the pandemic is over, let alone if other global health pandemics of this magnitude surface in upcoming years. Uncertainties over the novel coronavirus have interrupted global trade and supply chains. The pandemic has underlined the importance of a robust and resilient food system, which presents an unprecedented challenge for competent authorities in upcoming years.

The Effect of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Nonwovens Containing Chitosan and Propolis Extracts on Fresh Pork Packaged in Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Films.

Fresh meat products are highly perishable and require optimal packaging conditions to maintain and potentially extend shelf-life. Recently, researchers have developed functional, active packaging systems that are capable of interacting with food products, package headspace, and/or the environment to enhance product shelf-life. Among these systems, antimicrobial/antioxidant active packaging has gained considerable interest for delaying/preventing microbial growth and deteriorative oxidation reactions. This study evaluated the effectiveness of active linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films coated with a polycaprolactone/chitosan nonwoven (Film 1) or LLDPE films coated with a polycaprolactone/chitosan nonwoven fortified with Colombian propolis extract (Film 2). The active LLDPE films were evaluated for the preservation of fresh pork loin (longissimus dorsi) chops during refrigerated storage at 4 °C for up to 20 d. The meat samples were analyzed for pH, instrumental color, purge loss, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and microbial stability (aerobic mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria). The incorporation of the propolis-containing nonwoven layer provided antioxidant and antimicrobial properties to LLDPE film, as evidenced by improved color stability, no differences in lipid oxidation, and a delay of 4 d for the onset of bacteria growth of pork chops during the refrigerated storage period.

The effect of specialty salts on cooking loss, texture properties, and instrumental color of beef emulsion modeling systems.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional properties of specialty salts when incorporated into formulations of meat emulsions. Beef emulsion modeling systems were formulated with three types of specialty NaCl salts or a commercially sourced white NaCl salt at three different inclusion levels (0.70%, 1.00%, and 1.30%). Cooking loss, emulsion stability, proximate composition, pH, texture profile, and instrumental color of the emulsions were evaluated with three independent replications. Emulsion stability and cooking loss were primarily affected (P < 0.01) by salt inclusion level, while salt type was not affected (P > 0.12). Stability increased and cooking loss decreased as salt inclusion level increased (linear P < 0.01). Hardness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness of emulsions increased as salt inclusion level increased for all the treatments and were greatest (P < 0.0001) in all treatments at 1.30% salt inclusion level. Overall salt inclusion level, rather than salt type, had significant effects on water holding ability and emulsion stability.

Incorporation of ß-glucans in meat emulsions through an optimal mixture modeling systems.

The effects of ß-glucans (ßG) in beef emulsions with carrageenan and starch were evaluated using an optimal mixture modeling system. The best mathematical models to describe the cooking loss, color, and textural profile analysis (TPA) were selected and optimized. The cubic models were better to describe the cooking loss, color, and TPA parameters, with the exception of springiness. Emulsions with greater levels of ßG and starch had less cooking loss (<1%), intermediate L* (>54 and <62), and greater hardness, cohesiveness and springiness values. Subsequently, during the optimization phase, the use of carrageenan was eliminated. The optimized emulsion contained 3.13 ±â€¯0.11% ßG, which could cover the intake daily of ßG recommendations. However, the hardness of the optimized emulsion was greater (60,224 ±â€¯1025 N) than expected. The optimized emulsion had a homogeneous structure and normal thermal behavior by DSC and allowed for the manufacture of products with high amounts of ßG and desired functional attributes.

Dietary ractopamine influences sarcoplasmic proteome profile of pork Longissimus thoracis.

Dietary ractopamine improves pork leanness, whereas its effect on sarcoplasmic proteome has not been characterized. Therefore, the influence of ractopamine on sarcoplasmic proteome of post-mortem pork Longissimus thoracis muscle was examined. Longissimus thoracis samples were collected from carcasses (24 h post-mortem) of purebred Berkshire barrows (n=9) managed in mixed-sex pens and fed finishing diets containing ractopamine (RAC; 7.4 mg/kg for 14 days followed by 10.0 mg/kg for 14 days) or without ractopamine for 28 days (CON). Sarcoplasmic proteome was analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Nine protein spots were differentially abundant between RAC and CON groups. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucomutase-1 were over-abundant in CON, whereas serum albumin, carbonic anhydrase 3, L-lactate dehydrogenase A chain, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A, and myosin light chain 1/3 were over-abundant in RAC. These results suggest that ractopamine influences the abundance of enzymes involved in glycolytic metabolism, and the differential abundance of glycolytic enzymes could potentially influence the conversion of muscle to meat.