The first contact between consumers and the food product is usually the packaging and it’s labelling. Therefore, it is the primary means to generate consumer’s expectations. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the influence of nutritional and health claims on acceptance of salami with reduced sodium content, aimed at finding guidance for the product reformulation. Sixty consumers evaluated four samples of salami. The overall acceptance was evaluated using a nine-point hedonic scale, and the attributes color, tenderness, characteristic flavor and salt content, were evaluated by 7 - point just-about-right (JAR) scale. For the expectation test, overall liking of salami with reduced sodium content was evaluated by consumers under three conditions: (1) blind test (B); (2) expectation generated by nutritional and health claims (E), and (3) consumers re-tasted the salami having the nutrition and health claims available (R). Student’s t-tests performed on data indicated no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the mean acceptance under the blind (B) and real (R) conditions, although expectation ratings (E) were significantly higher than (B) (p ≤ 0.05). However, linear regression of (R - B) x (E - B) ratings revealed a major assimilation effect of expectation, especially under negative disconfirmation (E > B). Contrast effect was also observed, but to a lesser extent. The results showed that saltiness attribute was not decisive in decreased acceptance according to the JAR scale, but it was relevant in the aftertaste generated by adding salt substitutes. Finally, nutritional and health claims had little effect on consumer acceptance.

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to develop low sodium salami prepared with pork, low-fat beef and a small quantity of pork back fat (150 g kg−1). Sodium chloride (NaCl) was replaced by potassium chloride (KCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl2), and salamis were tasted to obtain low-salt salami with sensory characteristics similar to those found in commercial ones. Salamis were prepared following seven different treatments. Treatments included five different combinations of KCl and CaCl2 which varied from 5 g kg−1 to 10 g kg−1 and two controls containing high (25 g kg−1) and low (10 g kg−1) concentrations of NaCl. The right level of saltiness of each treatment was evaluated on “just-about-right” (JAR) scales and analyzed by Penalty Analysis. The results showed differences in pH and Aw (water activity) due to NaCl reduction. Salt replacement mixtures of KCl/CaCl2 in salamis did not affect this process technologically (slicing, appearance and texture), and the decrease in Na content was approximately 55 %. Although no significant differences were observed in appearance, treatments differed (p ≤ 0.05) in flavor, texture, and overall liking. As regards salt content of salami, consumers considered treatments with low NaCl content and replacers KCl and CaCl2 (% Na) as having an acceptable level of saltiness. However, this replacement produced a strange taste. Thus, the production of low sodium salamis using salt replacers (KCl and CaCl2) or salamis without replacers with a value higher than 1 % of NaCl can be used effectively without compromising major sensorial attributes.

A carne de cordeiro é comercializada no Brasil quase que exclusivamente na forma congelada, em função da maior vida útil fornecida pelo armazenamento congelado quando comparada à vida útil do armazenamento refrigerado. No entanto, devido à tendência de aumento da demanda por produtos de conveniência, surge a necessidade de mais estudos para permitir a comercialização da carne ovina na forma refrigerada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a contribuição da tecnologia de embalagens ativas na extensão da vida útil de lombos de cordeiro (Longissimus lumborum) armazenados sob refrigeração (1±1 ° C), em comparação com a embalagem tradicional a vácuo. Para tanto, dois tipos de sachês foram empregados: sachê absorvedor de oxigênio e sachê absorvedor de oxigênio/emissor de gás carbônico. Foram avaliados três tratamentos: 1) Vácuo (controle), 2) Vácuo + sachê absorvedor de oxigênio e 3) Vácuo + sachê absorvedor de oxigênio/emissor de gás carbônico. Durante 28 dias, foram realizadas semanalmente análises microbiológicas (contagens de psicrotróficos anaeróbios, coliformes a 45 ° C, estafilococos coagulase positiva, Salmonella e bactérias láticas) e físico-químicas (substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico, cor objetiva, valor de pH, perdas no cozimento e força de cisalhamento). Os experimentos foram repetidos três vezes para todos os tratamentos. Os resultados demonstraram que a carne de cordeiro embalada nos três diferentes sistemas manteve-se estável, durante todo o período de armazenamento, em relação à maioria dos parâmetros físicos e químicos avaliados, e dentro dos padrões estabelecidos pela legislação brasileira para microrganismos patogênicos. No entanto, todos os tratamentos apresentaram contagens elevadas de microrganismos psicrotróficos anaeróbios e bactérias láticas, atingindo valores superiores a 10(7) UFC/g, aos 28 dias de armazenamento. Assim, nas condições testadas, nenhum dos dois tipos de sachês avaliados (sachê absorvedor de oxigênio e sachê absorvedor de oxigênio/emissor de gás carbônico) foi capaz de estender a vida útil do lombo de cordeiro, quando incorporados a essa carne embalada a vácuo.

Lamb meat has been commercialized in Brazil almost exclusively as a frozen product due to the longer shelf life provided by freezing when compared to refrigeration. However, as a result of the current trend of increased demand for convenience products, a need has emerged for further studies to facilitate the marketing of refrigerated lamb cuts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contribution of active packaging technology in extending the shelf life of lamb loins (Longissimus lumborum) stored under refrigeration (1±1 ° C) when compared to the traditional vacuum packaging. For this purpose, two kinds of sachets were employed: oxygen scavenger sachet and oxygen scavenger/carbon dioxide emitter sachet. Experiments were conducted in three treatments: 1) Vacuum (Control), 2) Vacuum + oxygen scavenger sachet and 3) Vacuum + oxygen scavenger/carbon dioxide emitter sachet. Microbiological (counts of anaerobic psychrotrophs, coliform at 45 ° C, coagulase-positive staphylococci, Salmonella and lactic acid bacteria) and physical-chemical (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, objective color, pH value, water loss from cooking and shear force) analyses were carried out weekly for a total storage period of 28 days. The experiment was performed three times for all treatments. Results showed that the lamb meat remained stable with respect to the majority of the evaluated physical and chemical indexes and remained within the standards established by Brazilian legislation for pathogenic microorganisms throughout the storage period in all three packaging systems. However, all treatments presented elevated counts of anaerobic psychrotrophic microorganisms and lactic acid bacteria, reaching values above 10(7) CFU/g at 28 days of storage. Thus, under the conditions tested, neither the oxygen scavenger sachet nor the dual function sachet (oxygen scavenger/carbon dioxide emitter) were able to extend the shelf life of refrigerated lamb loin when added to this meat vacuum packaged.