Lipid and protein oxidation in charqui meat and jerked beef

In this study, the changes in the lipid (Lox) and protein oxidation (Pox) were measured quantitatively by TBARS and carbonyl methods, respectively, throughout the salting and drying steps of charqui meat (CH) and jerked beef (JB) preparation and their storage up to 60 days. The experiment was carried out on CH samples treated with brine (20.0%) and JB with same brine solution added with sodium nitrite (0.02%). After 60 days of storage, the carbonyl substances in CH were 2.77nmol mg-1 while in the JB samples, there was 61.0% oxidation inhibition. The TBARS determination revealed a Lox inhibition by approximately 5-fold in the latter samples. These results indicated that in the metmyoglobin molecule, the nitrite kept the Fe in the Fe2+ state in JB samples whereas in CH, the Fe was oxidized to Fe3+, which catalyzed the oxidation reactions more efficiently, leading to the higher development of Lox and Pox.

Volatile compounds present in traditional meat products (charqui and longaniza sausage) in Chile

The aim of this work was to identify and quantify the volatile compounds in five different commercial brands of charqui and longaniza sausages. Volatile compounds were extracted from some samples headspace using solid phase microextraction (SPME). The identification and quantification were made through the gas chromatography with a mass-selective detector (GS-MS). Fifty-four volatile compounds were identified in charqui samples and thirty-two volatile compounds in longaniza sausages. The chemical groups of the volatile compounds found in both the products were: aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, organic acids, furans, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Significant differences were found (p<0.05) in the volatile compounds among the brands of longaniza and charqui. A characteristic volatile compounds profile was not found in the analyzed products. However, an important percentage of the volatile compounds in charqui came from the lipid oxidation. In the case of longanizas sausages, volatile compounds come mainly from the carbohydrates fermentation and spices.

Potencial uso de espectroscopia de reflectancia en el infrarrojo cercano (NIRS) para identificación de charqui de bovino, llama y caballo / Potential use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for the identification of beef, llama and horse jerky

Visible and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (VIS/NIRS) was evaluated as a tool to discrimínate jerky from different species. Spectra were taken by reflectance in a NIRSystems 6500 monochromator and the software NIRS 3.0 and WinIsi II Version 1.02A were used. Twenty samples of jerky corresponding to beef, llama and horses, respectively, were ground, homogenized and analyzed spectrally. The regression equations (PLS) were developed testing different mathematical treatments. The results for jerky show that NIRS can successfully discriminate 100% of llama, 95% of horses and 80% of beef samples, probably as a consequence of differences in intramuscular fat, protein and water contents of the different species. Thus, NIRS is a fast, inexpensive and non-destructive method that can be used to discriminate jerky from these species.

Se usó espectroscopía visible y de reflectancia en el infrarrojo cercano (VIS/NIRS) como herramienta para discriminar charqui de diferentes especies. Los espectros se tomaron por reflectancia en un equipo monocromador NIRSystems modelo 6500, con un software NIRS 3.0, y WinIsi II Versión 1.02 A. Se molieron, homogenizaron y analizaron espectralmente 20 muestras de charqui correspondientes a bovino, llama y caballo. Se desarrollaron ecuaciones de regresión (PLS) probando diferentes tratamientos matemáticos. Los resultados para charqui muestran que NIRS puede discriminar satisfactoriamente 100% de las muestras de llama, 95% de caballos y 80% de bovino, probablemente como consecuencia de diferencias en el contenido de grasa intramuscular, proteína y agua de las diferentes especies. Así, la técnica NIRS muestra ser un método rápido, económico y no destructivo que puede usarse para discriminar charqui de diferentes especies.

Interações entre bactérias láticas produtoras de bacteriocinas e a microbiota autóctone de charque / Interactions between bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria and the autochthonous microbiota from charqui

O charque é um produto cárneo tipicamente brasileiro, salgado e seco ao sol, ainda produzido de maneira artesanal. Durante sua produção há uma etapa de fermentação, realizada pela microbiota naturalmente presente na matéria-prima, o que dificulta a padronização do produto, e pode influenciar negativamente em suas características sensoriais e qualidade microbiológica. O controle da etapa de fermentação do charque seria uma alternativa para minimizar este problema e, neste contexto, as bactérias láticas produtoras de bacteriocinas se enquadram de forma interessante. A microbiota autóctone de charque inclui principalmente bactérias láticas e micro-organismos halofílicos e halotolerantes, sendo assim, este produto apresenta potencial como fonte para o isolamento de novas bactérias láticas produtoras de bacteriocinas. Assim, este trabalho teve por objetivo isolar e identificar culturas de bactérias láticas produtoras de bacteriocinas naturalmente presentes no charque, caracterizar parcialmente as bacteriocinas produzidas por essas culturas, avaliar seu potencial de aplicação neste produto para a melhoria de sua qualidade microbiológica e avaliar seu efeito na ecologia microbiana do charque, nas diferentes etapas de sua fabricação. Através da técnica de tripla camada em ágar foi isolada uma cepa de Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis apresentando o gene codificador para nisina Z e com capacidade de inibir, in vitro, micro-organismos medianamente e altamente halotolerantes isolados de charque, além de outros micro-organismos deteriorantes e patogênicos importantes em alimentos, como Lactobacillus spp., Listeria monocytogenes e Staphylococcus aureus. A bacteriocina produzida pela cepa isolada neste estudo também possui características interessantes para sua aplicação na bioconservação de alimentos, como resistencia ao calor, presença de agente químicos e altos teores de NaCl, além de não ser afetada pelo pH. A aplicação dessa cepa em charque modelo resultou na redução de até 2 ciclos log na população de micro-organismos halotolerantes, indicando apresentar um potencial de aplicação como agente de bioconservação do produto. Os ensaios de avaliação da ecologia microbiana, empregando DGGE, indicaram que a fermentação natural do charque ocorreu com a participação de bactérias láticas dos gêneros Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Lactococcus e de micro-organismos halotolerantes do gênero Staphylococcus. Além disso, os estudos referentes à dinâmica populacional demonstraram que a adição da cepa bacteriocinogênica ao charque não influenciou, de forma qualitativa, as populações presentes no produto

Charqui is a Brazilian traditional meat product, salted and sun-dried, still manufactured without control of the fermentation step, which is performed by the indigenous microbiota. This fact interferes on the standardization of the product and can negatively affect the sensorial properties and microbiological quality. The application of a known microbiota would be an alternative to minimize this problem and the bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria can can fit in this purpose. The charqui indigenous microbiota mainly includes lactic acid bactéria and halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms, therefore, this product presents a potencial as a source for the isolation of new bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria. The aim of the present work was to isolate and identify bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria from charqui, characterize the bacteriocins produced by the isolated culture, evaluate its potential as biopreservative in charqui and its influence on the microbial populations during the manufacture of the product. A bacteriocinogenic Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis strain was isolated from charqui through the triple-layer agar technique. This strain produces a nisin-like bacteriocin capable to inhibit in vitro medium and highly halotolerant bacteria isolated from charqui and other food-borne pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. The application of this strain for charqui manufacturing caused a reduction of up to 2 log in the halotolerant bacteria population, evidencing its potential application for charqui biopreservation. Studies in the populational dynamics using DGGE indicated that the presence of the bacteriocinogenic strain did not affect the microbial populations in the product