Effects of Dill (Anethum graveolens) Essential Oil and Lipid Extracts as Novel Antioxidants and Antimicrobial Agents on the Quality of Beef Burger.

Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) essential oil (DEO) obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and lipid extracts (DSE1 and DSE2) obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction (SFE) were used as potential antioxidants and antimicrobial agents in beef burgers at two different concentrations (0.075 and 0.15 µL/g). The chemical profile of the lipid extracts and their in vitro antimicrobial activity against the common pathogens E. coli and L. monocytogenes (MIC and MBC) were determined. The quality and shelf life of the burgers were monitored through (lipid oxidation-TBARS test; protein oxidation-thiol group content and selected biogenic amine content) and microbiological quality (Enterobacteriaceae-EB, aerobic mesophilic bacteria-TAMB, lactic acid bacteria-LAB). Dill lipid extracts (DEO and DSE1) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced lipid oxidation and protein oxidation in beef burgers, while the lipid extract (DSE2) showed pro-oxidative effects. The strongest antimicrobial potential against EB was found in SFE1150 (1.15 log cfu/g). Putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, and tyramine were not detected in any of the analyzed samples during the storage period, while the total content of biogenic amines ranged from 21.4 mg/kg to 285 mg/kg. Generally, it can be concluded that dill essential oil (DEO) and extract DSE1 can be used as novel natural additives in minced-meat products.

Factors Affecting the Consumption of Traditional Food in Tourism-Perceptions of the Management Sector of Catering Facilities.

The topic of this study is the factors that influence the consumption of traditional food products (TFPs) in tourism, as seen from the perspective of management-sector employees in food and beverage catering facilities. The paper aims to analyse the economic, environmental, social, and touristic factors that highly influence the consumption patterns of catering facilities which are significant providers of traditional gastronomic experiences in tourism, by using the specially designed TFPct scale. The study was conducted on a sample of 300 catering facilities in AP Vojvodina (the Republic of Serbia). An explanatory factor analysis was used to confirm the key factors that influence the consumption of traditional products used to prepare the meals that are a part of what catering facilities offer. Subsequently, a binary logistics regression model was used to establish which of the indicated factors has a statistically significant effect on the management's decision to purchase these products for their catering facility. The study showed that the TFPct scale is appropriate for this type of research, and that economic factors are key factors in the consumption of traditional products. Moreover, compared with other types of catering facilities, interest in the consumption of these products is clearly expressed by a la carte restaurants.

Antibacterial Activity of Selected Essential Oils against Foodborne Pathogens and Their Application in Fresh Turkey Sausages.

Essential oils (EOs) isolated from different plant materials, namely Origanum majorana L., Satureja hortensis L., and Satureja montana L. (OMEO, SHEO, and SMEO, respectively), were used in fresh turkey sausage processing. The chemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial potential of selected EOs and their mixture were determined. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Listeria monocytogenes) ranged in the interval of 0.44-7.1 µL/mL. Fresh turkey sausages were produced with EOs addition and marked as follows: TOMEO-0.150 µL/g OMEO; TSHEO-0.150 µL/g SHEO; TSMEO-0.150 µL/g SMEO; TEOM-0.050 µL/g OMEO, 0.050 µL/g SHEO and 0.050 µL/g SMEO, and control (C) (without EOs). Microbiological profile and biogenic amines content in fresh turkey sausages were recorded during storage. The selected EOs and their mixture efficiently reduced bacterial growth and biogenic amines formation and accumulation. The lowest Enterobacteriaceae count and total biogenic amine (BA) concentration were determined through treatment TSHEO. The results of this study show that selected EOs could be useful in fresh turkey sausage processing in order to improve safety and shelf-life.

Evaluation of the physicochemical, biochemical and microbiological characteristics of three Serbian traditional dry-fermented sausages.

Three Serbian traditional dry-fermented sausages, Sremski kulen (S), Lemeski kulen (L) and Petrovacka kobasica (P), were compared for physicochemical, biochemical and microbiological properties, in order to provide complex overview of their quality and safety. The sausages were produced and analyzed within two production seasons in traditional practice. Water activity, color, texture and proximate composition varied significantly (P < 0.05), particularly due to moisture, protein and fat content, what indicated differences in basic formulation of raw sausage mixture, type of casing and some technological procedures. Based on the fatty acid profile the most favorable PUFA/SFA ratio was obtained in sausage P (0.68), while the obtained results for acid value (15.2-22.4 mg KOH/g lipid) and TBARS value (0.27-0.55 mg malondialdyde/kg) indicated low level of lipid degradation and oxidation in all samples. Regarding the microbial and biogenic amines (BA) analysis, positive outcome of this research is the total absence of all pathogenic microorganisms examined, while the registered levels of BA showed a great variability among the sausages. In particular, total BA content in L attained level that is approx. 50% higher than the recommended one. Hence, special care should be implemented regarding the future production and consumption of this type of sausage. Overall results of this study may be useful to define complete distinctive features of these sausages, to determine relations among them, as well as to improve some phases of traditional manufacturing process.

Coriander essential oil as natural food additive improves quality and safety of cooked pork sausages with different nitrite levels.

The effect of coriander essential oil (CEO) at concentrations of 0.075-0.150 µL/g on pH, color, lipid oxidation (TBARS), residual nitrite concentration and microbial growth of cooked pork sausages produced with different levels of sodium nitrite (0, 50 and 100 mg/kg) was investigated. Artificial neural networks modeling and the multi-response optimization were used to determine the optimal combinations of process parameters and storage time. Reduced concentration of sodium nitrite (60 mg/kg) in combination with 0.12 µL/g of CEO resulted in satisfying redness (a* approx. 11.1) and improved oxidative (TBARS approx. 0.12 mg MDA/kg) and microbial stability (total plate count - TPC approx. 2.50 Log CFU/g) of cooked pork sausages during refrigerated storage. Therefore, the results of this paper revealed significant antioxidative and antimicrobial activity of CEO, and consequently its high potential of utilization in processing of cooked pork sausages with enhanced quality and shelf-life.

Essential oil versus supercritical fluid extracts of winter savory (Satureja montana L.) - Assessment of the oxidative, microbiological and sensory quality of fresh pork sausages.

The effect of winter savory (Satureja montana L.) essential oil (SEO) and supercritical extracts (SE1; SE2) at concentrations of 0.075 and 0.150 µL/g on pH, lipid oxidation (TBARS), microbial growth and sensory quality of fresh pork sausages during storage were investigated. SEO, SE1 and SE2 improved oxidative and microbial stability of fresh pork sausages. The addition of SEO and SE1 at concentration of 0.150 µL/g affected the reduction of total Enterobacteriaeceae count to under 3 log cfu/g. Sausages produced with SE1 and SE2 had a higher scores for odor, flavor and overall acceptance compared to sausages treated with SEO and control sample. Therefore, the results of this paper revealed significant antioxidative and antimicrobial activity of SE1 and SE2, and consequently its high potential of utilization in processing of fresh pork sausages.

Relation between crust development and heterocyclic aromatic amine formation when air-roasting a meat cylinder.

The meat crust that develops during cooking is desired by consumers for its organoleptic properties, but it is also where heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAs) are formed. Here we measured HAs formation during the development of a colored crust on the surface of a beef meat piece. HAs formation was lower in the crust than previously measured in meat slices subjected to the same air jet conditions. This difference is explained by a lower average temperature in the colored crust than in the meat slices. Temperature effects can also explain why colored crust failed to reproduce the plateauing and decrease in HAs content observed in meat slices. We observed a decrease in creatine content from the center of the meat piece to the crust area. In terms of the implications for practice, specific heating conditions can be found to maintain a roast beef meat aspect while dramatically reducing HAs content.

Sensory, physical and chemical characteristics of cooked ham manufactured from rapidly chilled and earlier deboned M. semimembranosus.

Effects of rapid chilling of carcasses (at -31°C in the first 3h of chilling, and then at 2-4°C) and earlier deboning (8h post-mortem), compared to rapid (till 24h post-mortem) and conventional chilling (at 2-4°C, till 24h post-mortem), on quality characteristics of pork M. semimebranosus and cooked ham were investigated. Quality measurements included pH value, colour (CIEL a b values) and total aerobic count of M. semimebranosus, as well as sensory (colour, juiciness, texture, and flavour), physical (pH value, colour - CIEL a b values and texture - Warner-Bratzler shear and penetration forces) and chemical (protein, total fat, and moisture content) characteristics of cooked ham. The cooked ham was manufactured from pieces of M. semimebranosus with ultimate lightness (CIEL value) lower than 50. Rapid chilling and earlier deboning significantly increased quantity of M. semimebranosus desirable for cooked ham manufacturing. Earlier start of pork fabrication did not affect important quality characteristics of cooked ham.