Effect of Edible and Active Coating (with Rosemary and Oregano Essential Oils) on Beef Characteristics and Consumer Acceptability.

The effects of an alginate-based edible coating containing natural antioxidants (rosemary and oregano essential oils) on lipid oxidation, color preservation, water losses, texture and pH of beef steaks during 14 days of display were studied. The essential oil, edible coating and beef antioxidant activities, and beef consumer acceptability were also investigated. The edible coatings decreased lipid oxidation of the meat compared to the control. The coating with oregano was most effective (46.81% decrease in lipid oxidation) and also showed the highest antioxidant activity. The coatings significantly decreased color losses, water losses and shear force compared to the control. The coatings had a significant effect on consumer perception of odor, flavor and overall acceptance of the beef. In particular, the oregano coating showed significantly high values (approximately 7 in a 9-point scale). Active edible coatings containing natural antioxidants could improve meat product stability and therefore have potential use in the food industry.

Carcass Composition and Cuts of Bulls and Steers Fed with Three Concentrate Levels in the Diets.

In this paper, weight, carcass dressing, weights of the primary cuts, weights of the physical components of the primary cuts, and weights of the main commercial cuts of 66 Purunã animals, of which 33 were bulls and 33 were steers were evaluated. These animals, with an average age of 19 months at the beginning of the experiment, were finished in a feedlot system during 116 days, and were fed with diets containing three levels of concentrate (0.8%, 1.1%, and 1.4% of body weight). The concentrate was formulated with 25% soybean meal, 73% ground corn grain, 1% of a mineral mix, and 1% of limestone. The interaction between sexual groups and the concentrate level was not significant for any of the variables. Likewise, no effect of the concentrate level was detected on the same variable traits. The bulls demonstrated higher hot carcass weights (265.1 vs 221.7 kg) and a higher proportion of forequarter (38.4% vs 36.1%) however the steers presented with higher proportions of side (19.7% vs 18.5%) and hindquarter (44.2% vs 43.1%). The bulls produced higher yields of muscle in the three primary cuts, there by resulting in higher yields of edible portions of the carcass. The bulls also produced higher weights of tenderloin, knuckle, topside, flat, eye round, rump, and rump cover. The finishing of young bulls in feedlot is to be recommended, since the animals produce carcasses with higher amounts of edible meat and higher yields of commercial cuts, thus allowing for a better price for the carcass. Low concentrate level could be used due to the lower cost of production for farmers.

Análise sensorial de carnes bovina e de frango com tempero completo hipossódico / Sensory analysis of beef and chicken seasoned with low sodium salt formulation

A redução do sódio em alimentos processados no Brasil é, na atualidade, um dos grandes desafios da indústria alimentícia, que busca juntamente com o Ministério da Saúde minimizar o impacto da ingestão de sódio na saúde da população em geral e ou em grupos específicos. Na categoria de produtos industrializados, carne e produtos cárneos representam a segunda maior contribuição no consumo de sódio na dieta. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar sensorialmente carnes bovinas e de frango marinadas em tempero completo hipossódico utilizando sal comum, sal com reduzido teor de sódio e especiarias. Foram analisados sensorialmente, utilizando julgadores não-treinados e hipertensos, os atributos cor, aroma, sabor, textura e avaliação global de quatro amostras temperadas de carne bovina e quatro amostras temperadas de carne de frango com redução de 25 e 50% em seu teor de sódio comparado ao tempero padrão. Os índices de aceitabilidade das amostras ficaram acima de 85% e apenas duas amostras apresentaram diferença significativa no atributo cor para os demais atributos analisados. Foi possível substituir o cloreto de sódio dos temperos pelo cloreto de potássio em 25 e 50%, reduzindo, desta forma, os teores de sódio sem prejuízo à palatabilidade dos produtos analisados.

The reduction of sodium content in processed foods is a great challenge of the Brazilian food industry and Ministry of Health to minimize the impact of sodium intake on the health of the population in general or in specific groups. Concerning the processed products, meat and meat products represent the second largest contribution to dietary sodium intake. This study aimed to analyze sensorially beef and chicken marinated in spices using full-sodium salt, low sodium salt and spices. Non-trained hypertensive panelists judged the attributes color, aroma, flavor, texture and overall assessment of four samples of poultry meat and four samples of beef seasoned with a reduction of 25% and 50% in sodium content compared to the standard seasoning formulation. The acceptability index of the samples were above 85% and only two samples presented significant difference in the color attribute for the other parameters studied. It was possible to partially replace sodium chloride by potassium chloride (25- 50%) in seasoning formulations , reducing their levels of sodium without prejudice the palatability of the products analyzed.

Commensal isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis are also well equipped to produce biofilm on polystyrene surfaces.

OBJECTIVES: To study biofilm production and to detect icaAD, atlE and aap genes in 137 isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) obtained from healthy individuals from the community (35 isolates), from hospitalized patients at the Antônio Pedro University Hospital (25 isolates) and from individuals from a home-care system (HCS; 77 isolates). METHODS: Biofilm production was determined in vitro using polystyrene inert surfaces. icaAD, atlE and aap genes were detected using PCR. Hybridization experiments were also carried out to confirm some PCR results. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the NCCLS methods. RESULTS: Although many of the commensal MRSE isolates produced biofilms, the percentage of biofilm producers was significantly higher (P = 0.0107) among hospital isolates (76%) than among isolates from the community (60%) and from the HCS (57%). An association was observed between multiresistance and biofilm production for isolates obtained from healthy individuals from the community and from household contacts from the HCS (P < 0.0001). The concomitant presence of the ica operon and atlE and aap genes was associated with the strong biofilm-producer phenotype (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Because many of the commensal MRSE isolates obtained from nares produced biofilms and carried icaAD, aap and atlE genes, biofilms or such genetic elements should not be used as markers for clinical significance. The biofilm environment seems to increase genetic exchanges and hence may contribute to multiresistance phenotypes.