Partial replacement of meat and fat with hydrated wheat fiber in beef burgers decreases caloric value without reducing the feeling of satiety after consumption.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of hydrated wheat fiber replacing meat and fat in beef burgers on technological characteristics, sensory acceptance and hunger satisfaction. The different levels of hydrated wheat fiber (1 g fiber: 6 g water) were 0, 1.25, 2.5, 3.75 and 5.0 g of fiber/80 g burger portion. Results showed that the greater the addition of hydrated wheat fiber, the lower the protein (P < .0001) and lipid (P = .0006) content and consequently the greater the reduction in caloric value. Burgers with up to 3.75 g fiber/80 g portion showed the same (P > .05) sensory acceptance as the Control burgers (those without added fiber). Sandwiches comprised of burgers with 2.5 and 5.0 g fiber/80 g portion caused the same (P > .05) hunger satisfaction (satiety feeling) as those comprised of Control burgers for up to 3 h after consumption. Burgers containing 3.75 g fiber/80 g burger may represent an interesting alternative for people who want to reduce caloric intake and/or increase the proportion of insoluble fiber in their diet.

Modified atmosphere packaging for lamb meat: evaluation of gas composition in the extension of shelf life and consumer acceptance.

Convenience foods like chilled meat usually have a short shelf life. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) can be used together with refrigeration to retard meat degradation. This work evaluated the effect of MAP on the preservation and consumers acceptance of lamb meat. Lamb loins Longissimus lumborum were packed in five conditions: 15% O2 + 85% CO2 (O15), 30% O2 + 70% CO2 (O30), 45% O2 + 55% CO2 (O45), 60% O2 + 40% CO2 (O60), and Vacuum (control). Physicochemical, sensory, and microbiological analyses were carried out along 21 days of refrigerated (1 ± 1 °C) storage. Treatments O30, O45 and vacuum presented the lowest oxidation values: 0.60, 0.61 and 0.30 Malonaldehyde Kg-1 respectively. Treatment O45 showed the highest a* until the seventh day of storage (16.64). In the sensory preference ranking test, O30 and O45 received best scores in the first and second weeks of storage, respectively. Treatments O30 and O45 delivered products with lower microbial counts than the other ones. Considering a balance between consumer preference and microbiological results, we propose the use of 45% O2 + 55% CO2 gas composition to extend the shelf life of lamb loin.

Microencapsulated jabuticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) extract added to fresh sausage as natural dye with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.

The aim was to evaluate the addition of microencapsulated jabuticaba extract (MJE) to fresh sausage as natural dye with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Fresh sausages without dye, with cochineal carmine and with addition of 2% and 4% MJE were evaluated for chemical, microbiological and sensory properties during 15days of refrigerated storage. TBARS values were lower (P<0.05) throughout the storage period in sausages with 2% and 4% MJE (below 0.1mg of malondialdehyde/kg sample) than in control and carmine treatments (from 0.3 to 0.6mg of malondialdehyde/kg sample). T2% and T4% also showed lower microbial counts on storage days 4 and 15 for APCs. The addition of 4% MJE negatively influenced (P<0.05) sensory color, texture and overall acceptance attributes. On the other hand, T2% presented similar (P>0.05) sensory acceptance to control and carmine treatments in most of the attributes evaluated except for a decrease in color. Thus, addition of 2% MJE to fresh sausage can be considered as a natural pigment ingredient.