ABSTRACT: The use of natural colorants in meat products can keep its coloring attractive as well as meet the demand from consumers interested in products that are healthier. Nitrite is added as a preservative to these products and it is also a precursor of the generation of a specifically desired color in meat products. However, its use has been associated with the development of certain kinds of cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of reduced levels of nitrite in Brazilian sausage (linguiça) with natural colorants on the physicochemical and sensorial properties following frozen storage. Nine treatments were tested: 0.015 % nitrite (C150), 0.0075 % nitrite (C75) and 0 % nitrite (C0), 0.0075 % nitrite and 1.5 % microencapsulated betalain (BME75), 0 % nitrite and 1.5 % microencapsulated betalain (BME0), 0.0075 % nitrite and 0.19 % commercial betalain (BCP75), 0 % nitrite and 0.19 % commercial betalain (BCP0), 0.0075 % nitrite and 0.02 % of cochineal carmine (CC75) and 0 % nitrite and 0.02 % of cochineal carmine (CC0). Oxidative stability, residual nitrite and instrumental color were the determinant factors. Sensory analysis was directed at color, texture, taste and global acceptance. Natural colorants did not have any antioxidant effect. Sausages prepared with betalain and 0.0075 % nitrite showed the highest a* values. The addition of colorants improved both color and overall acceptance. The addition of betalain and cochineal carmine with 0.0075 % nitrite proved to be effective in achieving high acceptability in Brazilian sausage (linguiça).

Abstract Rabbit meat has a low-fat content when compared to other meat traditionally used as raw material in the processing of fermented sausages. In addition, it has high levels of essential amino acids in its composition. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the technological properties and sensorial acceptance of a fermented sausage produced with pork and rabbit meat. Three formulations were made: C1 (80% fresh lean pork + 20% pork back fat), T1 (40% fresh lean pork + 40% rabbit meat + 20% pork back fat) and T2 (80% rabbit meat + 20% pork back fat). Samples were evaluated for composition, texture profile, instrumental color, pH, weight loss, lipid oxidation and sensorial acceptance. The samples did not present significant differences between them for moisture, fat and protein contents. Regarding the aroma, flavor, hardness and overall acceptance, all samples presented similar mean values (P>0.05). The study showed that up to 40% of rabbit meat could be substituted in a fermented pork sausage without altering any of the sensorial attributes evaluated and with minimal effect on the technological parameters.

Abstract The aim of this study was to optimize the addition of oat fiber and inulin as fat substitutes in cooked Paio sausage using response surface methodology. The chemical composition, textural parameters, color properties, lipid oxidation, microbial analysis and sensory properties were assessed in twelve different treatments. The addition of dietary fiber led to a significant (P < 0.05) increase in moisture content and also a decrease in fat content of between 60.78% and 63.16%. Color parameters were significantly affected by the addition of inulin and oat fiber, as lightness decreases with the addition of oat fiber. Similar happened with redness, the lowest results were for the treatment with higher dietary fiber content added. Regarding lipid oxidation, the inclusion of fiber did not influence the TBARS values among treatments and throughout the storage time. Sausages manufactured with inulin and oat fiber present similar scores for color, taste and overall acceptability, while lower texture values were found in sausages manufactured with oat fiber. The addition of up to 6% of inulin with up to 0.85% oat fiber in a low fat cooked Paio sausage did not compromise technological parameters and sensory acceptably.

Abstract Inulin, fructooligosaccharide, oat fiber and wheat fiber were added at 3 and 6% level in low-fat beef burger and their performances were evaluated. The low-fat beef burgers were submitted to cooking losses, objective color, texture profile, TBARS value, pH, microbiological and sensory evaluations. FR3, FR6, IN3 e IN6 showed no difference from the control to yield. Hardness values increased in OF6, WF3 and WF6 and it was similar to control. WF6 was the lowest score for the overall acceptance. Higher yield and hardness were found with the addition of insoluble fibers at 6% level. The TBARS values were not influenced by the addition of dietary fibers in low-fat beef burger. Inulin at 6% (IN6) level showed the highest score for all the sensory attributes. Adding 6% inulin was shown the best alternative for use in low-fat beef burger.

Abstract Sodium chloride in meat products provides microbiological stability and desirable technological and sensory effects. Therefore, the reduction of this ingredient is a challenge for the meat industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of ready-to-eat sliced frozen roast beef with partial replacement of sodium chloride by a commercial additive mostly composed of potassium chloride. The analyses performed were chemical composition, cooking yield and post defrosting loss, microbiological evaluation and sensory analysis. There was higher moisture content (p < 0.05) in the control treatment (without the presence of the replacement additive) and all treatments were not different (p ≥ 0.05) in the cooking yield and in post-defrosting loss. The results of microbiological analysis are according to Brazilian Legislation. The sensory evaluation showed no difference between the control treatment and the T1 treatment (with the reduction of 35% of NaCl), while the T2 treatment (with reduction of 70% of NaCl) had the lowest average values in all attributes. The study showed that the reduction of 35% NaCl for commercial additive, mostly composed of potassium chloride, in roast beef is feasible since no changes were observed in sensory and technological characteristics evaluated.

Resumo Novos produtos cárneos de fácil preparo e com apelo de mais saudáveis têm sido desenvolvidos para satisfazer consumidores que buscam por praticidade aliada à redução nos teores de gordura e sal. Novos ingredientes são testados para causar menos impacto na textura, no rendimento e em outras propriedades físico-químicas destes produtos. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a adição de fibra de aveia sobre as propriedades físico-químicas de hambúrgueres cozidos e congelados de carne bovina e carne mecanicamente separada de frango, com redução de gordura e sal. Foram determinados a composição centesimal dos hambúrgueres, perfil de textura, rendimento, encolhimento, rendimento após o aquecimento por micro-ondas, além da determinação da cor objetiva durante estocagem sob congelamento. A adição de 6% de fibra de aveia em hambúrguer de carne bovina e carne mecanicamente separada de frango com redução da adição de gordura e de sal aumentou o rendimento, diminuiu a perda de peso durante o aquecimento por micro-ondas e melhorou a estabilidade da cor durante a estocagem sob congelamento por 60 dias. Tanto os hambúrgueres com adição de 3% como de 6% de fibra de aveia tiveram valores para dureza, mastigabilidade e coesividade similares ao controle, com adição de gordura e sem redução de sal. Houve redução de 35% no teor de gordura para os tratamentos com adição de fibra de aveia, em relação ao controle, com adição de gordura e sem redução de sal. A fibra de aveia pode ser considerada um ingrediente promissor para auxiliar formulações de produtos cárneos com redução de sal e gordura.

Summary New, healthier and easy to prepare meat products have been developed in order to satisfy consumers looking for convenience together with reduced fat and salt contents. New ingredients are tested to cause less impact on the texture, yield and other physicochemical properties of these products. This study aimed to evaluate the addition of oat fiber on the physicochemical properties of cooked and frozen hamburgers made from beef and mechanically deboned chicken meat with reduced fat and salt contents. The analyses carried out were the proximate composition, texture profile, yield, shrinkage and yield after heating in a microwave oven, besides the determination of instrumental colour during storage. The addition of 6% oat fibre to the hamburgers made from beef and mechanically deboned chicken meat with reduced fat and salt contents, increased the yield, decreased the weight loss during microwave heating and improved the colour stability during 60 days of frozen storage. Both the hamburgers with 3% and 6% of added oat fibre showed values for hardness, cohesiveness and chewiness similar to those of the control with added fat and no salt reduction. There was a reduction of 35% in the fat content for the treatments with added oat fibre as compared to the control with added fat and no salt reduction. Oat fibre can be considered a promising ingredient to assist the formulation of meat products with reduced salt and fat contents.