RESUMO
This study aimed to investigate through free word association the perception of Brazilian consumers regarding the possibility of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus through food. One thousand individuals answered the questionnaire via an online platform. Most cited terms (hygiene-8%, fear-8%, caution-5%) and categories (negative attitudes and feeling-72% and sanitization-60%) were related to overall COVID-19 infection rather than their specific infection through the food. The perception of the possibility of risk of this type of cross-contamination was greater for male participants, within the food field, with high income (>10 minimum wages), and from the midwest region. Nonetheless, there are still doubts regarding this possibility, especially for participants with low income (≤10 minimum wages), females, higher education (≥secondary school), who exercise professional activity outside the food sector and from most regions of Brazil. Practical applications: Although the SARS-CoV-2 virus was discovered 2 years ago, the emergence of new variants such as Omicron has increased infection and mortality rates worldwide. A possible way of COVID-19 infection is cross-contamination through food handling and contact surfaces if preventive measures are not applied. In this context, understanding the consumer perception from a continental-size country such as Brazil, with a wide variety of socioeconomic profiles, is crucial to minimize the severe impacts of the pandemic. Our study demonstrates the need to disseminate scientific information in different media to reduce misinformation, especially social media because most Brazilian consumers had doubts and uncertainties about the possibility of COVID-19 infection from cross-contamination through food.
RESUMO
ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to compare the color and oxidative stability of light (LM) and dark (DM) muscles of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stored at 4 °C for eight days. Five different trials of LM and DM samples were analyzed for instrumental color attributes (lightness, redness and yellowness), including the surface color stability through ratio of reflectance at 630/580 nm (R630/580), myoglobin concentration, total lipid content, fatty acid profile, metmyoglobin reducing activity (MRA), pH, lipid oxidation and protein oxidation. Results of the present study indicated that DM of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) present lower oxidative and color stability during refrigerated storage than LM.
RESUMO: O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar a estabilidade de cor e oxidativa de músculos claros (LM) e escuros (DM) de tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) armazenados a 4° C por oito dias. Cinco repetições diferentes de amostras de LM e DM foram analisadas quanto aos atributos instrumentais de cor (luminosidade, teor de vermelho e teor de amarelo), incluindo a estabilidade de cor na superfície através da razão de refletâncias nos comprimentos de onda 630 e 580 nm (R630/580), concentração de mioglobina, lipídios totais, perfil de ácidos graxos, atividade de redução da metamioglobina (MRA), pH, oxidação lipídica e oxidação proteica. Os resultados do presente estudo indicam que músculos escuros (DM) de tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) apresentam menor estabilidade oxidativa e de cor durante o armazenamento refrigerado, quando comparados aos músculos claros (LM).
RESUMO
ABSTRACT: The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of muscle type on protein oxidation, texture profile (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness and chewiness) and proximate composition of beef from grain-finished Bos indicus (Nellore) cattle in Brazil. The muscles longissimus lumborum (LL) and psoas major (PM) were collected 24 h post mortem from eight (n=8) Nellore bull carcasses, fabricated into five steaks (1.5-cm) and displayed under aerobic conditions for nine days at 4 °C. Proximate composition and texture profile were analyzed on day 0, whereas protein oxidation was analyzed during 9 days of storage. LL exhibited greater (P<0.05) protein concentration than PM steaks, whereas PM demonstrated greater (P<0.05) lipid and ash content than their correlative LL. In addition, LL steaks exhibited greater (P<0.05) hardness, springiness, cohesiveness and chewiness than PM steaks. In contrast, protein oxidation was greater (P<0.05) in PM than in LL steaks throughout the storage. The results suggest that the differences of muscle metabolism and composition contributed to the variation on biochemical attributes and texture profile of LL and PM steaks. Muscle-specific strategies are indicated to improve the color stability of PM steaks from grain-finished Bos indicus cattle.
RESUMO: O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a influência do tipo muscular na oxidação proteica, perfil de textura (dureza, elasticidade, coesividade e mastigabilidade) e composição centesimal da carne de bovinos Bos indicus (Nelore) terminados com grãos no Brasil. Os músculos longissimus lumborum (LL) e psoas major (PM) foram obtidos 24 horas post mortem de oito (n=8) carcaças de touros Nelore, cortados em cinco bifes (1,5 cm), e dispostos em condições aeróbicas por nove dias a 4 °C. Composição centesimal e perfil de textura foram analisados no dia 0, enquanto que a oxidação proteica foi analisada durante 9 dias de estocagem. Os bifes LL demonstraram maior (P<0.05) concentração de proteína em relação aos bifes PM, enquanto que PM apresentou maior (P<0.05) conteúdo de lipídeos e cinzas que LL. Além disso, os bifes LL exibiram maior (P<0,05) dureza, elasticidade, coesividade e mastigabilidade em relação aos bifes PM. Em contraste, a oxidação proteica foi maior (P<0,05) nos bifes PM do que nos bifes LL em todos os dias de estocagem. Os resultados sugerem que as diferenças no metabolismo e na composição muscular contribuíram para a variação nos atributos bioquímicos e perfil de textura entre os bifes LL e PM. Estratégias músculo-específicas são indicadas a fim de promover a estabilidade de cor nos bifes PM oriundos de bovinos Bos indicus terminados com grãos.
