Pork meat prepared by different cooking methods. A microstructural, sensorial and physicochemical approach.

The influences of four different cooking methods-pan, ohmic, vacuum and sous vide-were studied with regard to the microstructural, sensorial and physicochemical characteristics of pork meat. The end point temperature to all cooking methods was 70 °C. Pan cooking resulted in a softer meat with higher overall liking by the consumers, and ohmic cooking produced firmer (p < .05) meats and myofibrils, with higher alignment compared to the pan-cooked meat as well as a golden colour. Sous vide-cooked meats were perceived as insipid, while vacuum-cooked meats showed loss of structure and were perceived as drier (p < .01) and paler (p < .01). No statistically significant differences were found for cooking loss and water-holding capacity (p > .05). The results suggest that consumers preferred pan-cooking, as they described these samples as juicy, tender and tasty. Ohmic-cooked meat, which required shorter cooking times, showed similar characteristics to pan-cooked meat and could be used as alternative to pan cooking in the catering industry.

A systematic review of the nutritional implications of military rations.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess military rations. Military rations must provide military personnel with suitable nutrition, as high-quality nutrition is crucial for promoting health. AIM: This systematic review provides information regarding the nutritional design of military rations according to energy and protein intake and supplements. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted for articles published to date regarding the nutritional needs involved in a military diet for an active population of either gender, ranging from 18 to 60 years old, without excluding material by year, type of document, location, or author. The pertinent articles found were published from 1994 to 2017. RESULTS: Physical activity and environmental factors directly affect calculating energy needs and carbohydrate intake when designing military rations. However, the results showed no influence on protein, fat and/or sodium intake. Furthermore, the search revealed that military populations have a high intake of dietary supplements; it is thus worth considering their incorporation into campaign rations. CONCLUSION: Military personnel macro- and micro-nutrient needs depend on physical activity and nutrient intake measurement methodologies. The data regarding military personnel dietary supplement consumption indicated that this is a niche worth considering when designing military rations. Research on nutritional needs for military rations could concentrate on optimizing the amount of macro- and micro-nutrients and their biological value, according to physical activity, as well as maintaining their sensory quality, safety and shelf life using different processing technologies.

Effect of Starter Culture and Low Concentrations of Sodium Nitrite on Fatty Acids, Color, and Escherichia coli Behavior during Salami Processing.

The reduction of NaNO2 and safety in meat products have been a concern to the meat industry for the last years. This research evaluated the changes in total fatty acids (TFAs) and myoglobin forms by adding starter culture (Lactobacillus sakei/Staphylococcus carnosus) and 50 ppm of NaNO2 during salami processing. In the postripening stage, the starter culture influenced the concentration of the palmitic, oleic, vaccenic, and γ-linolenic TFAs, whereas the metmyoglobin concentration was lower (which could be related to the antioxidant effect of the starter culture). In this stage, an increase in enthalpy, specific heat, and onset temperature was found when adding starter culture and NaNO2, which is directly related to polyunsaturated TFA. However, when adding just the starter culture without 50 ppm NaNO2, the E. coli population was reduced in 4 log CFU/g. This study proposes the analysis of changes in meat product processing like salami in a holistic form, where the application of starter culture with low nitrite concentrations could be in the meat industry an upward trend for reducing this additive.

Identificación histórica, geográfica y cultural en la elaboración de dulces tradicionales de Valledupar: un acercamiento para su conocimiento técnico / Historical, Geographical and Cultural Identification in the Production of Traditional Valledupar Candies: An Approach for Technical Knowledge

Resumen Antecedentes: en la Región Caribe colombiana, los dulces han tenido una larga tradición de producción, consumo e importancia, es por eso que ya hacen parte de la identidad de los locales y de todo el país. Siempre que se evoca la gastronomía del caribe colombiano, en especial la de Valledupar, los dulces aparecen como primera opción en la lista de postres típicos. Reflexión: la diversidad cultural que caracteriza las regiones colombianas se refleja claramente en su gastronomía, en la que los dulces tradicionales se consumen como ese "bocadito dulce que acompaña el almuerzo", pero, más que estar presentes en nuestras mesas en el acto de comer, los dulces en un solo bocado evocan historia, geografía, religión, tradición, técnica, cultura, sabores y saberes; por lo que, con este trabajo, se busca realizar un acercamiento a estos aspectos para luego caracterizar los dulces según materia prima, forma de elaboración y consistencia, haciendo mediciones de algunas de sus propiedades organolépticas como pH y concentración de sólidos (°Brix). Conclusiones: todo lo anterior ha permitido entender que la cocina dulce de Valledupar funciona como un ejemplo emblemático para exaltar las complejidades tanto culturales como técnicas que hacen parte de las cocinas en Colombia.

Abstract Background: In the Colombian Caribbean region, candies have had a long tradition of production, consumption and importance, thus contributing to the identity of the locals and the entire country. As such, when Colombian Caribbean gastronomy is evoked, especially that of Valledupar, candies appear at the top of the list of typical desserts. Reflection: The cultural diversity that characterizes the Colombian regions is reflected in its gastronomy, where traditional candies such as "bocadito dulce que acompaña el almuerzo" are consumed, but more than being present at our tables, candies evoke, in a single bite, the history, geography, religion, tradition, technique, culture, tastes and knowledge of the area. This paper seeks to address these aspects and then characterize the candies according to their raw material, form of preparation, and consistency, and measuring various organoleptic properties such as pH and concentration of solids (°Brix). Conclusion: This study has contributed to the understanding that the Valledupar´s sweet cuisine functions as an emblematic example of both cultural and technical complexities that are part of Colombian cuisines. DP analysis is a tool that can be used for formulating dietary recommendations based on food culture.

Listeria monocytogenes behaviour and quality attributes during sausage storage affected by sodium nitrite, sodium lactate and thyme essential oil.

The effects of the addition of nitrite at 200 ppm (N), sodium lactate 1.5% (L) and thyme essential oil at 100 ppm (T1) on Listeria monocytogenes behaviour and ATPase activity inhibition were evaluated, as well as lipid oxidation through the quantification of malonaldehydes, in sausage stored at 8 ℃ for 41 days and at 30 ℃ for 14 days. The changes in the colour profile were performed during storage time at 8 ℃. Quantitative descriptive sensory analyses were performed after two days at 4 ℃. At 8 ℃, the treatments with the highest inhibition on L. monocytogenes were L and N, without significant differences. In turn, at 30 ℃, the bacterium was most inhibited with treatment L, followed by T1 and N, without significant differences. A 44.1% and 19% inhibition of ATPase activity was detected in L and T1 treatments, respectively. At 8 ℃ and 30 ℃, malonaldehydes content was not different between the treatments. N presented the highest values of a* and concentration of metmyoglobin after 41 days at 8 ℃. The panel detected differences between T1 and N for the aroma in the descriptors spices and herbal.

In vitro modelling of simultaneous interactions of Listeria monocytogenes, Lactobacillus sakei, and Staphylococcus carnosus.

The Jameson effect model describes suppression of microorganism growth as being dependent on non-specific competition. This model was developed for simultaneous growth in a liquid medium and microbial interactions between Listeria monocytogenes, Lactobacillus sakei, and Staphylococcus carnosus with addition of NaNO2 to mimic the manufacturing process of salami for 48 h at 21°C and then for 14 days at 17°C. L. monocytogenes in the presence of L. sakei was inhibited by 2.120 log CFU/mL in the presence of NaNO2, and 1.146 log CFU/mL without NaNO2. Inhibition of L. monocytogenes cocultured with S. carnosus was 2.248 log CFU/mL at 48 h, but after 336 h was not significantly (p>0.05) different from L. monocytogenes in mono-culture. The interspecific competition parameter (ß) <1 indicated that the prevailing competition in co-cultures was intraspecific. Differentiation between 2 bacterial species interactions can be applied for use in starter cultures with pathogenic flora.

Changes of the water-holding capacity and microstructure of panga and tilapia surimi gels using different stabilizers and processing methods.

Surimi gel is a food product traditionally manufactured from marine species; it has functional features including a specific texture and a high protein concentration. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of the ultrasound extraction protein method and different stabilizers on the water-holding capacity (WHC), texture, and microstructure of surimi from panga and tilapia to potentially increase the value of these species. For this purpose, WHC was determined and texture profile analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and texture image analysis were carried out. The results showed that the ultrasound method and the sodium citrate can be used to obtain surimi gels from panga and tilapia with optimal textural properties such as the hardness and chewiness. Moreover, image analysis is recommended as a quantitative and non-invasive technique to evaluate the microstructure and texture image properties of surimis prepared using different processing methods and stabilizers.