FOOD. Science. Technology. Quality

Food. SCIENCE. Technology. Quality

Food. Science. TECHNOLOGY. Quality

Food. Science. Technology. QUALITY

Authors

KAROLINA M. WÓJCIAK, KATARZYNA NEFFE-SKOCIŃSKA, EUGENIUSZ GRELA, ZBIGNIEW J. DOLATOWSKI

Title

Using pork meat from porkers fed pasture blend with added protein-xanthophylls concentrate of alfalfa to produce potentially probiotic dry-fermented sausages

Abstract

The objective of the research study was to assess the possibilities of using pork meat from the porkers fed a pasture blend with the addition of protein-xanthophylls concentrate of alfalfa to produce potentially probiotic dry-fermented sausages. In the experiment, the meat and pork back fat were used from pigs grouped in two feeding groups: control (C) and experimental (EX). The control group comprised the sows fed a standard pasture blend, whereas in the experimental group contained the sows fed a pasture blend enriched with a protein-xanthophylls concentrate of alfalfa. Four variants of dry-fermented sausage were produced using the meat and back fat from the animals in the C and EX groups. Both the control and the experimental sausages were fermented traditionally, i.e. with the use of natural meat microflora, and, also, using a starter probiotic strain of Lb. casei ŁOCK 0900; the size of the added strain was 6.3 log cfu/g. The sausages matured during a 21 day period, at a temperature of 18º C and at a relative humidity of 75-85%. After maturing, the samples were vacuum-packed and stored at a temperature of 4 º C. The research study included the determination of a pH value, oxidative-reduction potential (ORP), peroxide number, content of free fat acids (FFA), TBARS value after the maturation process (0), and after 3 and 6 months of chilling storage. The count of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) was determined after the maturation process. The level of sausage acidification (pH) was between 4.6 and 5.2. Significantly higher peroxide values were determined in the samples with the probiotic added regardless of the meat and fat used as raw materials to make sausages; those values were 3.5 and 3.8 meq O2/g, respectively. During the entire period of chilling storage, the value of TBARS in the samples was not higher than 1.5 mg MDA/kg. Based on the results, it was proved that the raw materials from meat and fat from animals fed the pasture with the protein-xanthophylls (PX) concentrate of alfalfa added could be used to produce potentially probiotic dry-fermented sausages. The products were characterized by a high oxidative stability and optimal physical-chemical qualities during the entire 6 month period of chilling storage.

Keywords

protein-xanthophylls concentrate of alfalfa, feeding pigs, pork, probiotic, dry-fermented sausage, quality

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