ABSTRACT
The development of air-dried cured sheep meat products represents an interesting option to add value to the meat of adult animals. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate consumer sensory and hedonic perception of sheep meat coppa, an innovative product. Four sheep meat coppa samples were formulated by varying smoking (smoked vs. non-smoked) and salt content (4.5% vs. 3.4%), and compared with two commercial samples of regular pork meat coppa. Samples were evaluated under blind or informed conditions by 202 consumers, who had to rate their liking and to answer a check-all-that-apply question. Sheep and pork meat coppa samples did not largely differ in their overall liking in both experimental conditions. Smoking and high salt content significantly increased consumers' hedonic perception of sheep meat coppa. The information included in the labels did not modify consumer hedonic perception but influenced their sensory description, particularly for the terms related to the type of meat used in their manufacture. Results indicate positive market opportunities for sheep meat coppa in the Brazilian market.
Subject(s)
Consumer Behavior , Meat Products/analysis , Taste , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Animals , Brazil , Female , Food Handling/methods , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sheep, Domestic , Sodium Chloride, Dietary/analysis , SwineABSTRACT
The development of high-quality air-dried cured sheep meat products adapted to meet consumer demands represent an interesting option to add value to the meat of adult animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of process parameters on consumer choice of two products from sheep meat under different evoked contexts, considering product concepts. A total of 375 Brazilian participants completed a choice-based conjoint task with three 2-level variables for each product: maturation time, smoking, and sodium reduction for dry-cured sheep ham, and natural antioxidant, smoking, and sodium reduction for sheep meat coppa. A between-subjects experimental design was used to evaluate the influence of consumption context on consumer choices. All the process parameters significantly influenced consumer choice. However, their relative importance was affected by evoked context.
Subject(s)
Consumer Behavior , Food Handling , Meat Products , Adult , Aged , Animals , Antioxidants/analysis , Brazil , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sheep , Smoke , Sodium Chloride, Dietary/analysisABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Listeria monocytogenes is of notable concern to the food industry, due to its ubiquitous nature and ability to grow in adverse conditions. This study aimed to determine the genotypic profile of L. monocytogenes strains isolated from refrigerated chickens marketed in the southern part of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The strains of L. monocytogenes isolated were characterized by serotyping and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). Three different serotypes (1/2a, 1/2b and 4e) were evaluated by PFGE, and the macrorestriction patterns utilizing enzymes AscI and ApaI, revealed five different pulsotypes. The presence of such varied genotypic profiles demonstrates the prevalence of L. monocytogenes contamination of chicken processing environments, which combined with ineffective cleaning procedures, allowing the survival, adaptation and proliferation of these pathogens, not only in the processing environment, but also in local grocery stores.
RESUMO: Listeria monocytogenes é uma notável preocupação para a indústria de alimentos, devido à sua natureza ubíqua e a capacidade de se multiplicar em condições adversas. Este estudo objetivou determinar o perfil genotípico de L. monocytogenes isolada a partir de frangos refrigerados comercializados na região sul do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. As cepas de L. monocytogenes foram selecionadas e caracterizadas por sorotipagem e Eletroforese em Gel de Campo Pulsado (PFGE). Três sorotipos diferentes (1/2a, 1/2b e 4e) foram avaliados por PFGE, e a combinação dos padrões de macrorestrição utilizando as enzimas AscI e ApaI revelou cinco diferentes pulsotipos. A presença de diferentes perfis genotípicos demonstra a importância da contaminação no ambiente de processamento de frangos, o qual, juntamente com procedimentos de limpeza ineficazes, permitem a sobrevivência, adaptação e proliferação desses patógenos, não somente no ambiente de processamento, mas também no local de comercialização destes produtos.
