Reducing the fat content of processed meat products has become necessary due to consumer-driven demand for healthier foods. In this sense, this study aimed to characterize chicken mortadella with total and partial replacement of chicken skin by green banana biomass (GBB). Five treatments (with two repetitions each and weighing 400 g) were prepared: F0 (control treatment formulated with 100% chicken skin), F1, F2, F3, and F4 (25, 50, 75, and 100% of chicken skin replacement by GBB, respectively). Samples were characterized according to physicochemical composition - approximate composition, energy value, pH, water activity (Aw), emulsion stability (ES), water-holding capacity (WHC), instrumental color (L*, a* and b*), instrumental texture, fatty acid profile, and microstructure) - nutritional quality and sensory properties (dynamic profiling by Temporal Checkall-that-apply and acceptance). The replacement of 100% chicken skin by GBB increased the WHC of mortadella and did not affect the ES in all formulations. The addition of GBB did not affect the typical mortadella flavor of the samples, and the dominance of the flavor was directed towards the fibrous and fat flavor attributes. In addition, all formulations had acceptance scores above 6.5. Based on the results, replacement up to 100% of chicken skin with GBB is possible and obtains a healthier emulsified meat product with good sensory acceptance.

The potential of green banana biomass (GBB) as a natural ingredient and its impact as a fat replacer in chicken mortadella on sensory perception were investigated. The GBB was assessed for physicochemical characterization, antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity. Five chicken mortadella formulations were developed with fat replacement of 25, 50, 75 and 100% by GBB. Microbiological stability of the formulations was assessed, and the sensory profiling was evaluated by Preferred Attribute Elicitation (PAE). The dietary fiber, resistant starch, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in GBB were 3.99%, 4.16%, 518.39 mg GAE/100 g (GAE: Gallic acid equivalent) of dry sample, 5307.62 mu mol of trolox equivalent (TE)/100 g of dry sample and 3583.12 mu mol of trolox equivalent (TE)/100 g of dry sample, respectively. GBB contained potassium (1121 mg/100 g), phosphorus (183.6 mg/100 g), magnesium (77.4 mg/100 g), copper (0.53 mg/100 g) and iron (7.21 mg/100 g). The microbial counts in the formulations after 90 days of chill storage were within the safe limit. The results concluded that GBB showed desirable functional and technological proprieties to be used in chicken mortadella without affecting the characteristic flavor of these products. Besides, PAE proved to be a potential method to characterize chicken mortadella.

This study aimed to compare the methods of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) on the lipid oxidation of chicken mortadella with substitution (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of chicken skin by green banana biomass (GBB) for 90 days of storage. The NMR method was correlated with the Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), medium-infrared spectroscopy, flame ionization gas chromatography (GC-FID), and physical-chemical parameters. During 90 days of storage, TBARS values ranged from 2.16 to 2.56 mg/kg(-1). NMR showed appearance of allylic protons and there was an increase of the trans fatty acids content over 90 days in relation to the first day of storage with the decrease of GBB concentration. The lipid content was highly correlated with allylic protons and trans fatty acids content (R-2 values ranged from 0.952 to 0.965), revealing that NMR is an efficient methodology with high precision for determination of lipid oxidation. Practical applications Lipid oxidation is one of the main problems found in the processing and storage of emulsified meats, once these products present a high fat content. In this context, the present study suggested the use of green banana biomass as fat replacement in chicken mortadella, and the results showed a reduction in the total fat content as well as a lower concentration of trans fatty acids. In addition, this work presented understanding regarding the NMR method as the most indicated method in relation to the usual method, TBARS, to evaluate lipid oxidation during 90 days of storage.

The concepts of food defense have been incorporated into the food production chain after the attacks on the World Trade Center in the U.S. in 2001, when the susceptibility to mass terrorist actions was evident. An attack on a water or food supply network could cause an incalculable physical, psychological, or financial impact. In the Brazilian armed forces, although the concept is already present in food manuals, there is still no doctrinal regulation on the subject. In military operations, especially in foreign territories, the concept assumes greater importance, since the opponent is looking for any vulnerabilities that could cause a decrease in the human force headcount and loss of operability. In this scope, the present study evaluated in an unprecedented way the impacts of the implementation of the concepts of the food defense in a military organization of the Brazilian Army, using the application of the tool Food Defense Plan Builder. Most of the demands (60.7%) of the Action Plan was fully or partially met. The greatest difficulties were observed in the field of personnel control, still being an obstacle in the management of the vulnerabilities.

The addition of xylooligosaccharide (XOS), sodium reduction and flavor enhancers (arginine and yeast extract) on the manufacture of requeijão cremoso processed cheese was investigated. The addition of XOS resulted in a denser and compact structure, with increased apparent viscosity, elasticity (G') and firmness (G*). The addition of XOS and yeast extract improved the rheological and physicochemical properties (decrease in viscosity and particle size and increase in melting rate) and sensory characteristics (improvement in salty and acid taste, greater homogeneity, and lower bitter taste). In addition, a positive effect of arginine was observed in the sensory characteristics of the requeijão cremoso processed cheese, but without improvements in the physicochemical and rheological characteristics. Overall, the XOS addition and sodium reduction proportionated the development of a healthier processed cheese formulation.

Background: Thermal pasteurization and sterilization are predominantly used in the dairy industry due to their efficacy in improving the product safety and shelf life. However, heat treatment can cause undesirable protein denaturation, non-enzymatic browning, loss of vitamins and volatile flavor compounds, freezing point depression, and flavour changes. Cold plasma is a non-thermal technology that has gained attention in recent years as a potential alternative method for chemical and thermal disinfection in foods using ambient or moderate temperatures and short treatment times. Scope and approach: This review aims to describe the fundamentals, parameters, and technology on cold plasma, discussing the critical processing factors involved in this technology. Also, it describes the mechanisms of microbial inactivation and provides an overview of the effects of non-thermal plasma on the quality of dairy products, considering a physicochemical, sensory and microbiology perspective. Key findings and conclusions: Cold plasma uses less aggressive mechanisms of action to the milk matrix when compared to the techniques currently used, and has shown an excellent performance on the elimination of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms besides maintaining, in many cases, the nutritional, functional, and sensory characteristics of the product.

Chemical characteristics, mineral levels (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Mn), fatty acid profile and volatile compounds of typically Brazilian cheeses (Minas Frescal, Minas Padrão, Prato and Coalho, n = 200, equally distributed) were investigated. The cheeses have proven to be a source of Ca, Cu and Zn (>15% RDI/30 g), with low atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, with ethanol as the main alcohol and butanoic acid as the main acid, and moderate to high sodium content. Minas Frescal cheese presented lower nutritional value (proteins, lipids, and minerals), while Prato cheese had a higher fatty acids concentration, including conjugated linoleic acid (0.013 g 100 g-1). Coalho cheese had a higher acetic acid level, while citric acid and lactic acid predominated in Minas Padrão cheese. The results provide essential information for Brazilian consumers, demonstrated that the manufacturing conditions are heterogeneous and suggested that a standardized manufacturing protocol for dairy processors is needed.

The effects of the concentration of watermelon juice at different temperatures (45, 55, or 65 degrees C) on the physicochemical and sensory characteristics, antioxidant capacity, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of whey-based popsicles were investigated. Total phenolic content, lycopene, citrulline, VOCs, melting rate, instrumental colour, antioxidant capacity, and the sensory characteristics (hedonic test and free listing) were determined. The temperature led to a significant decrease in bioactive compounds (total phenolics, lycopene, and citrulline). The popsicle manufactured with reconstituted watermelon juice concentrated to 60 degrees Brix at 65 degrees C presented higher antioxidant capacity and was characterized by the presence of alcohols, aldehydes and ketones and presented a similar acceptance to the untreated popsicle (except for flavour). It is possible to combine whey and concentrated watermelon juice for the manufacture of bioactive-rich popsicles, using the concentration temperature of 65 degrees C as a suitable processing condition for potential industrial applications.

O presente artigo compreende uma revisão sobre a aplicação da transglutaminase de origem microbiana (MTGase) em produtos cárneos, elaborados com teor reduzido de sódio. A MTGase tem se mostrado muito eficiente em promover pontes cruzadas entre proteínas, favorecendo a coesão em produtos reestruturados e melhorando a força de géis em produtos cárneos emulsionados, contribuindo para a melhoria de textura e preservando o sabor dos produtos. Tradicionalmente, o cloreto de sódio (NaCl) é adicionado às massas cárneas por desempenhar um papel-chave na solubilização das proteínas miofibrilares. No entanto, o excesso desse mineral tem sido associado aos altos índices de problemas de saúde, como a hipertensão arterial. Como reação a este cenário, a sociedade científica e indústrias ligadas ao setor cárneo têm buscado alternativas que possam atuar na redução do sódio nesses alimentos. Na presente revisão, são relatados estudos recentes sobre a aplicação da MTGase em diversos produtos de origem cárnea, elucidando a importância desse coadjuvante de tecnologia para a pesquisa científica e a aplicação industrial na área de produção de alimentos de conveniência e mais saudáveis

This article includes a review of the application of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) in meat products prepared with reduced-sodium. The MTGase has shown to be very efficient in promoting protein cross-bridges, favoring the cohesion restructured products and improving the strength of gels inemulsified meat products, contributing to preserve and improve their texture and flavor. Traditionally sodium chloride (NaCl) is added to pasta carneas to play a key role in the solubilization of the myofibrillar proteins. However, the excess of this mineral has been linked to high rates of health problems as hypertension. In response to this scenario, scientific society and industries connected to the meat industry has sought alternatives that can acte to reduce the sodium in these foods. In this review, recent studies are reported on the application of MTGase in various products of meat mixture, elucidating the importance of supporting technology for scientific research and industrial application in the production of convenience healthier foods.

Cupuaçu, uma das principais e mais consumidas frutas da região amazônica brasileira, pertence à família Sterculiacea, cuja denominação binomial é Theobroma grandiflorum schum. É uma fruta típica da Amazônia, sendo cultivada nos estados do Pará, Maranhão e Tocantins. Esta fruta apresenta crescente utilização no Brasil para o mercado interno e externo, sendo comumente comercializada como polpa congelada. Apesar de sua importância, há poucos dados de caracterização e contaminação da polpa de cupuaçu. Amostras de polpa de cupuaçu foram avaliadas quanto à viscosidade aparente, tensão de cisalhamento, umidade, cinzas, nitrogênio total, extrato etéreo, acidez, sólidos solúveis e pH. Os resultados demonstram a necessidade de aprimorar as boas práticas agrícolas e de fabricação e implantação de sistemas de controle de qualidade para minimização dos riscos associados à contaminação por micro-organismos.

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) has been investigated and industrially applied to extend shelf life of meat-based products. Traditional ham packaged under microaerophilic conditions may sometimes present high lactic acid bacteria population during refrigerated storage, which limits shelf life due to development of unpleasant odor and greenish and sticky appearance. This study aimed at evaluating the shelf life of turkey ham pressurized at 400 MPa for 15 min and stored at 4, 8 and 12 °C, in comparison to the non pressurized product. The lactic acid bacteria population up to 10(7) CFU/g of product was set as the criteria to determine the limiting shelf life According to such parameter the pressurized sample achieved a commercial viability within 75 days when stored at 4 °C while the control lasted only 45 days. Predictive microbiology using Gompertz and Baranyi and Roberts models fitted well both for the pressurized and control samples. The results indicated that the high hydrostatic pressure treatment greatly increased the turkey ham commercial viability in comparison to the usual length, by slowing down the growth of microorganisms in the product.

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) is an innovative technology for food processing with lower environmental impact and product quality damage. Instead of heating, commonly used for food preservation, it uses high pressure (100 MPa to 900MPa) to ensure microbiological safety and maintain sensory and nutritional characteristics. More recently it has been investigated and industrially applied to extend shelf life of meat-based products. Traditional ham stored under refrigeration and microaerophilic conditions may sometimes present high population level of deteriorating lactic acid bacteria, which limits shelf life due to development of unpleasant odour and greenish and sticky appearance. This study aimed to evaluate the shelf life of turkey ham pressurized at 400MPa/15 minutes and stored at fridge temperatures 4, 8 and 12° C, in comparison to the non pressurized product. The population of lactic acid bacteria was considered the limiting shelf life parameter up to 107 CFU/g of product. It was found that by using the storage temperature of 4 ° C, the commercial viability of the control sample resulted in 45 days while the pressurized sample achieved 75 days, showing that the high pressure process greatly increased the product shelf life. Predictive modified using Gompertz and Baranyi & Roberts models fitted well both for the pressurized and control samples, allowing further prediction of product shelf life according to the storage conditions. These results indicated that the high hydrostatic pressure treatment may bouble the commercial viability of turkey ham, by slowing down the growth of microorganisms in the product.

The High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) is an innovative food technology which uses high pressure (100 a 900 MPa) and has the advantage over conventional thermal technologies of keeping the sensory characteristics of food similar to the original characteristics ensuring the food safety, from the microbiological point of view, for an increased shelf life. This study aimed at investigating the effects of high pressure on the oxidative process, particularly on the lipid oxidation, and their effects on the color of pressurized turkey ham when treated from 200 to 400 MPa for 5, 10, and 15 minutes at room temperature. From the results, one can observe that no significant difference (p > 0.05) was found between the control and pressurized samples for the TBA indexes, but a difference was observed in the peroxide index on the 30(th) day among the samples. It was also observed change of color due to oxidative reactions after 45 and 65 days of storage in the samples treated under pressures of 400 MPa for 5 and 15 minutes.

The main responsible for the spoilage of cooked cured meat products stored under refrigerated and anaerobic conditions are lactic acid bacteria. The application of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) reduces the lactic acid bacterial growth extending the product shelf-life and preserving natural taste, texture, color and vitamin content. This work studied the influence of pressure level and holding time on the lactic acid bacterial growth in vacuum-packaged sliced ham. Modified Gompertz and Logistic models were used to fit experimental data obtained from post-treatment microbial counts carried out along the product storage. Samples of sliced vacuum-packaged ham treated by HHP and control samples (non-treated) were stored at 8°C until the microorganism population reached 107CFU/g. An experimental planning 22 with triplicate at the central point was designed to determine the influence of pressure level (200, 300, and 400MPa) and holding time (5, 10, and 15min) on the product shelf-life. The results have shown that the pressure intensity and the holding time significantly influenced microbial population over the product storage. Shelf-life of ham treated at 400MPa for 15min was extended from 19 (control samples) to 85 days.