Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in Sliced Ready-to-Eat Meat Products Packaged under Vacuum or Modified Atmosphere Conditions.

The objective of this research was to determine the behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in three types of sliced ready-to-eat meat products packaged under vacuum or modified atmosphere conditions and stored at three temperatures. Slices of about 25 g of chorizo (a fermented dry pork sausage), jamón (cured ham), and cecina (a salted, dried beef product) were inoculated with L. monocytogenes NCTC 11994. Slices were packaged in a vacuum or in a modified atmosphere (20% CO2, 80% N2). After packaging, samples were stored for 6 months at three temperatures: 3, 11, or 20°C. Microbiological analyses were performed after 0, 1, 7, 15, 30, 45, 90, and 180 days of storage. The type of meat product, the type of packaging, the temperature, and the day of storage all influenced microbial levels (P < 0.001). L. monocytogenes counts decreased throughout the course of storage in samples of chorizo (quick decrease) and jamón (gradual decrease). In cecina samples, counts of L. monocytogenes increased from day 0 to day 1 of storage and then remained constant until day 90 of the study. These results may be of use for enhancing the safety of these ready-to-eat meat product types. Additional evaluation of the behavior of L. monocytogenes in cecina is needed.

FATTY ACID PROFILE OF TWO CURED MEAT PRODUCTS: DRY-CURED HAM AND CECINA.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: the aim of this study was to assess the fatty acid profile of two cured meat products of similar manufacturing processes and characteristics, dry-cured ham (JA) and cecina (CE), a type of dry-cured beef. The obtained results were discussed in terms of the effects that each singular fatty acid, when consumed, could have on human health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: for this purpose, 10 samples of 100 g of JA and CE were obtained in local food stores in León, Spain. Lipids were extracted and transesterified, then a gas chromatography-mass was used to analyze the samples. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: results for fatty acid profiles for JA and CE showed significant differences (p < 0.01), with these values for main lipids fractions, saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), respectively: 42.86%, 43.27% and 13.87 for JA and 46.87%, 46.96% and 6.20% for CE. SFA and MUFA percentages were slightly higher in CE at the expense of PUFA, specifically in the n-6 series, where values of 11.06% in JA and 3.91% in CE were obtained. In both products, the most prevalent fatty acid was a monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, with percentages of 37.28% in JA and 38.48% in CE. Other fatty acids with higher percentages, with respect to total fat, were two saturated fatty acids: palmitic acid, 20.63% in JA and 22.95% in CE, and stearic acid, 18.65% in JA and 17.14% in CE.

Introducción y objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el perfil de ácidos grasos de dos derivados cárnicos curados-madurados, relativamente similares en cuanto a composición y proceso de elaboración: el jamón (JA) y la cecina (CE), haciendo una revisión de los resultados obtenidos desde el punto de vista de los efectos individuales que los principales ácidos grasos de consumo dietético tienen sobre la salud humana. Materiales y métodos: para ello se tomaron 10 muestras de 100 g de jamón y de cecina en distintos establecimientos de la provincia de León, España. Se extrajo la grasa y se metiló para posteriormente realizar el análisis de los ácidos grasos resultantes mediante cromatografía de gases masas. Resultados y discusión: los perfiles lipídicos obtenidos para el JA y la CE presentaron diferencias significativas (p < 0,01), con los siguientes valores para las fracciones lipídicas mayoritarias, ácidos grasos saturados (SFA), ácidos grasos monoinsaturados (MUFA) y ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (PUFA), respectivamente: 42,86%, 43,27% y 13,87 para el JA y 46,87%, 46,96% y 6,20% para la CE. Los porcentajes de SFA y MUFA fueron mayores en la CE en detrimento de los PUFA, en concreto de la serie n-6, para la que se obtuvieron valores de 11,06% en JA y de 3,91% en CE. En ambos productos el ácido graso detectado en mayor cantidad fue un ácido graso monoinsaturado, el ácido oleico, con porcentajes del 37,28% en JA y 38,48% en CE. Otros dos ácidos grasos presentes en porcentajes elevados respecto al total de la grasa fueron dos ácidos grasos saturados: el ácido palmítico, 20,63% en JA y 22,95% en CE, y el ácido esteárico, 18,65% en JA y 17,14% en CE.

Fatty acid profile of two cured meat products: dry-cured ham and cecina / Perfil de ácidos grasos de dos derivados cárnicos curados-madurados: jamón y cecina

Introduction and objectives: the aim of this study was to assess the fatty acid profile of two cured meat products of similar manufacturing processes and characteristics, dry-cured ham (JA) and cecina (CE), a type of dry-cured beef. The obtained results were discussed in terms of the effects that each singular fatty acid, when consumed, could have on human health. Materials and methods: for this purpose, 10 samples of 100 g of JA and CE were obtained in local food stores in León, Spain. Lipids were extracted and transesterified, then a gas chromatography-mass was used to analyze the samples. Results and discussion: results for fatty acid profiles for JA and CE showed significant differences (p < 0.01), with these values for main lipids fractions, saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), respectively: 42.86%, 43.27% and 13.87 for JA and 46.87%, 46.96% and 6.20% for CE. SFA and MUFA percentages were slightly higher in CE at the expense of PUFA, specifically in the n-6 series, where values of 11.06% in JA and 3.91% in CE were obtained. In both products, the most prevalent fatty acid was a monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, with percentages of 37.28% in JA and 38.48% in CE. Other fatty acids with higher percentages, with respect to total fat, were two saturated fatty acids: palmitic acid, 20.63% in JA and 22.95% in CE, and stearic acid, 18.65% in JA and 17.14% in CE (AU)

Introducción y objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el perfil de ácidos grasos de dos derivados cárnicos curados-madurados, relativamente similares en cuanto a composición y proceso de elaboración: el jamón (JA) y la cecina (CE), haciendo una revisión de los resultados obtenidos desde el punto de vista de los efectos individuales que los principales ácidos grasos de consumo dietético tienen sobre la salud humana. Materiales y métodos: para ello se tomaron 10 muestras de 100 g de jamón y de cecina en distintos establecimientos de la provincia de León, España. Se extrajo la grasa y se metiló para posteriormente realizar el análisis de los ácidos grasos resultantes mediante cromatografía de gases masas. Resultados y discusión: los perfiles lipídicos obtenidos para el JA y la CE presentaron diferencias significativas (p < 0,01), con los siguientes valores para las fracciones lipídicas mayoritarias, ácidos grasos saturados (SFA), ácidos grasos monoinsaturados (MUFA) y ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (PUFA), respectivamente: 42,86%, 43,27% y 13,87 para el JA y 46,87%, 46,96% y 6,20% para la CE. Los porcentajes de SFA y MUFA fueron mayores en la CE en detrimento de los PUFA, en concreto de la serie n-6, para la que se obtuvieron valores de 11,06% en JA y de 3,91% en CE. En ambos productos el ácido graso detectado en mayor cantidad fue un ácido graso monoinsaturado, el ácido oleico, con porcentajes del 37,28% en JA y 38,48% en CE. Otros dos ácidos grasos presentes en porcentajes elevados respecto al total de la grasa fueron dos ácidos grasos saturados: el ácido palmítico, 20,63% en JA y 22,95% en CE, y el ácido esteárico, 18,65% en JA y 17,14% en CE (AU)