Spontaneously growing fungi on the surface and processing areas of matured sheep ham and volatile compounds produced.

Raw ham is a dried and matured product traditionally made from pork leg, but other animals, such as sheep, can be used. The natural presence of bacteria and fungi in this product influences its characteristics throughout the process. This study analysed the fungal populations present during raw sheep hams' processing. Two types of products were developed: without and with the addition of seasonings. Mycological analyses were carried out from the ingredients, seasonings, facilities air, as well as on the surfaces of the hams and the air in the chamber throughout the maturation period (0, 45, 90, and 180 days) using 18 % dichloran glycerol agar and the data were submitted to Principal Component Analysis. Volatile compounds were evaluated at the end of the sheep ham manufacturing process through a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. At 45 days of aging, a more remarkable similarity was observed between the fungi present on the non-seasoned hams and those in the ripening chamber's air, while the seasoned hams showed a more evident relation with those fungi present in the spices. With time, the fungi in the air of the ripening chamber started to be influenced by Aspergillus ser. Aspergillus and Aspergillus ser. Rubri already installed in the seasoned hams at 45 days, and then it probably dispersed the non-seasoned ones due to the airborne spores, becoming the most prevalent in both treatments at 90 days. At the end of ripening, the mycobiota of both raw hams was composed mainly by xerophilic species of Aspergillus section Aspergillus. The total fungal count was 5.78 log CFU/cm2 for the non-seasoned and 7.19 log CFU/cm2 for the seasoned ones. A potentially ochratoxigenic Aspergillus ser. Circumdati was detected at the end of aging in raw, unseasoned hams. In conclusion, seasoning directly influences the species developing on the surface of seasoned hams throughout the ripening process, and indirectly affects the mycobiota of the non-seasoned hams when sharing the same ripening chamber. The presence of fungi in the matured sheep ham seems to contribute to the formation of volatile compounds, which are related to the sensory quality of these products.

Instrumental and sensory evaluation of meat from lambs and hoggets fed high-concentrate maize or sorghum diets / Avaliação instrumental e sensorial da carne de cordeiros e borregos alimentados com dietas de alto concentrado de milho ou sorgo

Instrumental and sensory traits of meat from lambs and hoggets fed high-concentrate maize or sorghum diets were evaluated. A total of 16 lambs and 16 hoggets were used in a completely randomized experimental design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (two sheep categories × two grain types). Lamb meat exhibited greater lightness (L*) in the rectus abdominis muscle (RA); yellow intensity (b*) in the perirenal fat (PF) and subcutaneous caudal fat (SCF); and water-holding capacity and acidic taste in the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle. Hogget meat, on the other hand, showed higher (P < 0.05) red indices (a*) (RA), cooking losses (kg) and drip losses (kg and g kg-1) (LD). Between the diets, the maize diet resulted in higher values (P < 0.05) for a* content (PF and SCF) and strange aroma (LD) of meat. The sorghum diet provided meat with higher cooking (kg) and drip (kg) losses and greater tenderness (LD) (P<0.05). Therefore, while the lamb category and the maize grain diet favored the instrumental traits, the hogget category and sorghum grain diets benefited the sensory traits of meat.(AU)

Avaliaram-se as características instrumentais e sensoriais da carne de cordeiros e borregos alimentados com dietas de alto concentrado de milho ou sorgo. Foram utilizados 16 cordeiros e 16 borregos, distribuídos em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 (duas categorias ovinas x dois tipos de grãos). A carne dos cordeiros apresentou superioridade para luminosidade (L*) no músculo rectus abdominis (RA), índice de amarelo (b*) na gordura perirenal (GR) e na gordura subcutânea caudal (GSC), capacidade de retenção de água e sabor ácido no músculo longissimus dorsi (LD). Por outro lado, borregos apresentaram índice de vermelho (a*) (RA), perdas a cocção (kg) e perdas de exudato (kg e g kg-1) (LD) superiores (P < 0,05). Ao avaliar as dietas, os animais alimentados com grão de milho apresentaram resultados superiores (P < 0,05) para o teor de a* (GR e GSC) e aroma estranho (LD). Os animais alimentados com grão de sorgo apresentaram perdas a cocção (kg), perdas de exudato (kg) e maciez (LD) superiores (P < 0,05). Portanto, enquanto que a categoria cordeiros e a dieta com grão de milho favoreceram melhores características instrumentais, a categoria borregos e dietas com grão de sorgo apresentaram melhores características sensórias da carne.(AU)

Consumer sensory and hedonic perception of sheep meat coppa under blind and informed conditions.

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.

Consumer perception of dry-cured sheep meat products: Influence of process parameters under different evoked contexts.

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.

Volatile fatty acids production from anaerobic treatment of cassava waste water: effect of temperature and alkalinity.

The production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), intermediates in the anaerobic degradation process of organic matter from waste water, was evaluated in this work. A batch reactor was used to investigate the effect of temperature, and alkalinity in the production of VFAs, from the fermentation of industrial cassava waste water. Peak production of total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) was observed in the first two days of acidogenesis. A central composite design was performed, and the highest yield (3400 mg L(-1) of TVFA) was obtained with 30°C and 3 g L(-1) of sodium bicarbonate. The peak of VFA was in 45 h (pH 5.9) with a predominance of acetic (63%) and butyric acid (22%), followed by propionic acid (12%). Decreases in amounts of cyanide (12.9%) and chemical oxygen demand (21.6%) were observed, in addition to the production of biogas (0.53 cm(3) h(-1)). The process was validated experimentally and 3400 g L(-1) of TVFA were obtained with a low relative standard deviation.