Utility for production of massaged products of selected wild boar muscles originating from wetlands and an arable area.

Percentages of muscle fibre types, area of intramuscular fatty tissue (IMF) and changes in hardness, rheological properties as well as mean fibre cross-sectional area (CSA), and endomysium thickness of muscles from wild boars hunted in two different ecosystems (arable area vs. wetlands) were evaluated. Three muscles: Biceps femoris (BF), Semimembranosus (SM), and Longissimus (L) subjected to massaging (or not) for 4h were studied. Fibre type percentage and structural elements: mean muscle fibre cross-sectional area (CSA), endomysium thickness, and amount of intramuscular fat (IMF) were measured using a computer image analysis programme. Fibre properties of muscles from wild boars originating from arable areas did not differ from those of wild boars from wetlands. Muscles of wild boars hunted in the arable area of the forest contained significantly higher amounts of intramuscular fat and lower values of hardness, viscous and elastic moduli than the corresponding muscles of animals from the marshy area. Of the muscles tested, BF with its higher percentage of red fibres and fibre CSA, thicker endomysium and lower amount of IMF compared to SM and L muscles, was tougher and more elastic and viscous than the other two muscles. Muscle massaging resulted in an increase in the fibre CSA and decrease in thickness of the endomysium and as a consequence reduced hardness and augmented the viscous and elastic modules of the muscles. Muscles with higher amounts of intramuscular fat, lower values of textural parameters and percentage of red fibres as well as smaller structural elements showed higher susceptibility to massaging. Muscles from animals hunted on wetlands compared to those from wild boar shot on the arable land and BF compared to SM and L, were slightly less susceptible to mechanical tenderization.

Canned cod liver as a source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, with a reference to contamination.

Lipid composition (HPLC), fatty acid composition (GC/MS), lipid oxidation (peroxide value, anisidine value), UV-VIS and fluorescence spectra (Ex 365 nm), and susceptibility of lipids to oxidation (photooxidation test) as well as heavy metal, PCB, and DDT contents were determined in canned, raw, and thermally treated cod liver (separately in the released oil and in the solids). Canned products of three manufacturers were examined. Mean contents of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in the oil and solids were 31.91 +/- 1.83 and 16.59 +/- 7.48 g/100 g, respectively, the respective contents of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) being 17.88 +/- 1.69 and 8.79 +/- 3.67 g/100 g. Lipid resistance to oxidation was found to decrease after thermal treatment of livers. However, the lipid oxidation level in canned liver stored for 3-8 months was not high and averaged, for the entire can content, 0.47 +/- 0.4 Meq O, the oil being more susceptible to oxidation that the solids. It is concluded that canned cod liver is a very good source of n-3 PUFA, particularly with respect to DHA. Heavy metal, DDT, and PCB contamination and the presence of lipid oxidation products in the canned products tested remain at a level producing no perceivable health hazard and could in no way interfere with consumption of recommended amounts of n-3 PUFAs.