The effects of packaging materials on the fatty acid composition, organic acid content, and texture profiles of Tulum cheese.

In this research, Erzincan Tulum cheese was packaged in its original packaging material, the skin bag, small intestine, and appendix to observe the changes in its physical, chemical, and textural properties during storage day. Lactic acid% values increased in all Tulum cheeses throughout storage stage. At the end of the storage period, the highest value was determined in the sample filled in the small intestine (20.10%). All fatty acid values were increased, and the highest increase was identified in oleic acid (C 18:1) (skin bag 2.18%), linoleic acid (18:2) (appendix 0.41%), and palmitic acid (C 16:0) (small intestine 0.34%), respectively. All organic acids increased in stored sample. The highest increase among organic acids was determined to be 4.47% in lactic acid. As a result of the Texture Profile Analyses (TPA), the hardness, and adhesiveness of Tulum cheeses increased during storage periods, whereas the springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness values decreased. Gumminess value declined in the sample filled into the appendix (with a value of 36.01), whereas it increased in the other two samples. The highest increase in hardness values was 2,520.27 N at given storage time was in the samples filled into appendix while the highest adhesive values of -49.82 were determined in the sample filled into small intestine. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Tulum cheese is usually produced by filling sheep or goat skin bag. Goat or sheep skin bag are not always available, and the amount of cheese produced in them is excessive. Therefore, cheeses were also filled to small intestine and appendix. At the end of the study, there were no negative effects on cheeses filled with intestine and appendix. The use of small intestine and appendix has helped to develop a product that will be appreciated by the consumers with no adverse effects in the physicochemical and textural properties of cheese.

Determination of sensitivity of some food pathogens to spice extracts.

Spices are primarily used as flavor enhancers and have attracted attention as natural food preservatives since their antimicrobial effects were determined. In the present study, the antimicrobial effects, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values on 5 important food-borne pathogenic bacteria were investigated in 20 different types of spices that are not commonly used. The results indicated that Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) was the most effective against Listeria monocytogenes (26.37 mm zone diameter) and Staphylococcus aureus (24.15 mm zone diameter) (P < 0.05) followed by the chebulic myrobalan (Terminalia chebula) (21.34 ± 0.35 and 23.85 ± 1.69 mm diameter zone respectively) (P < 0.05). Likewise, Hibiscus (H. sabdariffa) showed the lowest MICs and MBCs concentration values on five important food-borne pathogens (L. monocytogenes) MIC; 0.187 mg/L, MBC; 0. Thus, this study determined that spices with antimicrobial activities can be used as natural preservatives.

Effects of modified atmosphere packaging on shelf life of Turkish delight (lokum).

Turkish delight is a sugar-based jellylike confection that has been produced for hundreds of years. In this study, four different modified atmospheres were created in order to extend the shelf life of Turkish delight. Microbiological analyses and sensory evaluations were conducted at the beginning of storage and at 7-day intervals thereafter. Microbiological analyses showed that the numbers of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria within samples stored in a modified atmosphere of 30% CO2 plus 70% N2 were lower than in the other modified atmospheres. According to sensory evaluations, the samples kept in a modified atmosphere of 50% CO2 plus 50% N2 were unacceptable after the 21st day of storage, whereas those kept in modified atmospheres of both 25% CO2 plus 75% N2 and 30% CO2 plus 70% N2 were found to be acceptable even after 30 days of storage.

Effects of blade tenderization, aging method and aging time on meat quality characteristics of Longissimus lumborum steaks from cull Holstein cows.

The effects of blade tenderization (BT), two aging methods (dry (D) and wet (W)), and aging time (2 and 23 d) on tenderness, color, and sensory properties of Longissimus lumborum muscles from 12 cull Holstein cows were evaluated. Dry-aged loins had higher combined trim and aging losses than control (C) for both D- and W-aging, mostly because of excess trim losses. BT steaks had WBSF of 33.13 N while C steaks had WBSF of 41.46 N (P=0.09). Aging decreased WBSF. Blade tenderized steaks had higher cook loss than C steaks. Aging, W-aging, and BT×W-aging improved myofibrillar (sensory) tenderness scores. Aging and/or BT improves sensory panel tenderness cull cow Longissimus lumborum steaks. Aging and blade tenderization combined can increase tenderness and value of Longissimus steaks from cull Holstein cows.

Effects of dry, vacuum, and special bag aging; USDA quality grade; and end-point temperature on yields and eating quality of beef Longissimus lumborum steaks.

This study evaluated the effects of three aging methods: (dry (D), wet (W), and special bag (SB)); two quality grades [USDA Choice((≥Small(50) marbling) and Select); and two cooked end-point temperatures (62.8 °C and 71.1 °C) on physico-chemical traits of instrumental tenderness, color, and sensory properties of Longissimus lumborum beef muscle. Dry-aged loins had higher (P<0.0001) weight loss than W or SB aged loins. However, D and SB aged loins had similar (P>0.05) combined losses. W aged loins had higher (P<0.01) L* values than D or SB aged loins. Warner-Bratzler shear force of steaks was not affected (P>0.05) by aging method or quality grade but increased (P<0.0001) as end-point temperature increased. Sensory panel evaluation also showed no effect (P>0.05) of aging method or quality grade on myofibrillar tenderness, juiciness, connective tissue amount, overall tenderness or off flavor intensity. Steaks cooked to 62.8 °C were juicier (P<0.05) than those cooked to 71.1 °C. Neither D nor SB aging had advantages over W aging.

Effect of ground poppy seed as a fat replacer on meat burgers.

Poppy seed paste was used in koefte production as an animal fat replacer and efficacy of using poppy seed was investigated. The use of ground poppy seed in formulation of meat burgers had no effect on the moisture content of uncooked meat burgers; however, it did have a significant effect (p<0.05) on the fat content of meat burgers. Ground poppy seed addition significantly affected (p<0.05) cooking yield, moisture retention, and fat retention of meat burgers. Ground poppy seed addition significantly decreased (p<0.05) saturated fatty acid contents as the amount of ground poppy seed increased in meat burgers. A strong significant decrease (p<0.05) on the cholesterol content of meat burgers with ground poppy seed addition was observed. Samples having 20% ground poppy seed had significantly better texture and juiciness score (p<0.05) than any other sample which could be explained by increased moisture retention. Replacing animal fat with ground poppy seed paste is effective and may pave the way for an innovative meat product.

Organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in cow's, buffalo's, and sheep's milk from Afyonkarahisar region, Turkey.

In this study, it was aimed to determine organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in three types of milk (cow's, buffalo's, and sheep's milk) produced in Afyonkarahisar province of Turkey. The results indicated that these milk specimens were found to be contaminated by 21 different pesticides. Sixteen OCP residues were detected in sheep's milk and it was followed with 14 pesticides in buffalo's milk and 11 pesticides in cow's milk. Dominant pesticides in all samples examined were beta-HCH in buffalo's, cow's, and sheep's milk in the concentrations of 63.36, 91.32, and 122.98 ng/ml, respectively. Total OCP levels were found to be 243.81 ng/ml in sheep's milk, 151.02 ng/ml in cow's milk, and 133.38 ng/ml in buffalo's milk. Some of the pesticides detected were found to be in the excess amount of the acceptable level regarding the EU regulations.

Determination of antioxidant effects of some plant species wild growing in Turkey.

In this study, the antioxidant activity of 50% aqueous methanol extracts of Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers, Crataegus bornmuelleri Zaberi, Crataegus orientalis Pall. ex M.Bieb. var. orientalis, Crataegus szovitsii Pojark, Crataegus curvisepala Lindm., Crataegus monogyna Jacq. subsp. monogyna, Crataegus monogyna Jacq.subsp. azarella (Gris.) Franco, Crataegus micophylla C.Koch, Rosa foetida Herrm., Rosa hemisphaerica J.Herrm., Rosa pulverulenta M.Bieb., Rosa canina L., Rubus discolor Weihe & Nees, Rubus canescens DC. var. canescens, Rubus sanctus Screber, Rubus caesius L., Sorbus umbellata (Desf.) Fritsch var. umbellata, Prunus avium L. (Moench.) and Prunus cerasus L. Mespilus germenica was evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including free radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal-chelating activities. The extracts of R. hemisphaerica J.Herrm., P. cerasus L. and R. canina L. showed more stronger free radical scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities, and the extracts of R. foetida Herrm. (62.54%) and P. cerasus L. showed stronger metal-chelating activity. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the R. hemisphaerica J.Herrm., P. cerasus L. and R. canina are potential sources of natural antioxidant. These antioxidant properties depend on the concentration of the sample.

Effects of packaging method and storage time on the chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of Turkish pastirma - A dry cured beef product.

The effects of packaging method (aerobic packaging (AP), vacuum packaging (VP) or modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)), the form of pastirma (sliced or non-sliced) and storage time (0, 15, 30, 60, 90 or 120 days) on the chemical, microbiological and sensory properties of a Turkish pastirma were investigated. Overall, MAP preserved chemical, microbiological and sensory properties of Turkish pastirma better than AP or VP. Very high correlation coefficients (almost all >0.90) were observed between subjective quality parameters (sensory properties) and objective quality parameters (TBARS, hexanal content, L(∗), a(∗), and b(∗)), which suggests that sensory panel was able to determine the quality changes over storage time precisely. Based on the results of this study, MAP should be the preferred choice of packaging in order to preserve overall quality of Turkish pastirma and its implication for pastirma packaging may increase pastirma's current share in the processed meat product market.