The aim of the present study was to assess raw pork sausages collected on the Dutch market for the presence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA. 46 of 316 (14.6%) products sampled from Dutch retail stores ...in 2017–2019 were positive for HEV RNA. HEV RNA was detected in 10.8% of “cervelaat” (n = 74), 18.5% of salami (n = 92), 26.1% of “metworst” (n = 46), 16.3% of “snijworst” (n = 43) samples. This was significantly more often than in other raw pork sausages like dried sausages, fuet or chorizo (3.3%, n = 61). The percentage of HEV RNA positive products was not significantly different for products sold as either sliced or unsliced deli meat. The average viral load in positive tested products was 2.76 log10 genome copies per 5 g, incidentally reaching up to 4.5 log10 genome copies per 5 g. The average HEV RNA level was significantly higher in samples collected in 2017 than those in samples collected in 2018, and most of the samples in 2019. Typing by sequence analysis was successful for 33 samples, all revealing genotype 3c. The results support recent epidemiological studies that identified specific raw pork sausages as risk factor for hepatitis E virus infection in the Netherlands. Persons at risk, including Dutch transplant recipients, have been advised to avoid the consumption of raw pork sausages. The study warrants a continuation of monitoring to follow the HEV RNA levels in pork products for use in risk assessments and risk management.
•HEV RNA was detected in 46/316 raw pork sausages (14.6%) on the Dutch market.•Cervelaat, salami, metworst and snijworst more often positive than other sausages.•The HEV strains sequenced were typed as genotype 3c.•The average level in contaminated sausages was 2.76 log10 HEV gc per 5 g.•Quantitative data revealed change in HEV contamination over time.
Meat analogue research and development focuses on the production of sustainable products that recreate conventional meat in its physical sensations (texture, appearance, taste, etc.) and nutritional ...aspects. Minced products, like burger patties and nuggets, muscle-type products, like chicken or steak-like cuts, and emulsion products, like Frankfurter and Mortadella type sausages, are the major categories of meat analogues. In this review, we discuss key ingredients for the production of these novel products, with special focus on protein sources, and underline the importance of ingredient functionality. Our observation is that structuring processes are optimized based on ingredients that were not originally designed for meat analogues applications. Therefore, mixing and blending different plant materials to obtain superior functionality is for now the common practice. We observed though that an alternative approach towards the use of ingredients such as flours, is gaining more interest. The emphasis, in this case, is on functionality towards use in meat analogues, rather than classical functionality such as purity and solubility. Another trend is the exploration of novel protein sources such as seaweed, algae and proteins produced via fermentation (cellular agriculture).
Alheira is a naturally fermented meat sausage traditionally made in the Portuguese region of Trás-os-Montes. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the dominant microorganisms in alheira and can endow it ...with various technological properties. This study aimed (1) to characterize technological features and in vitro antimicrobial activity of LAB isolated from alheira, and (2) to reveal associations between such phenotypic characteristics and the isolates species identified through amplification and sequencing of the 16S ribosomal gene. Sixty-two LAB isolates were identified and Enterococcus (E.) faecium corresponded to 32.3% of isolates, followed by Leuconostoc (L.) mesenteroides (19.4%) and Latilactobacillus (Lb.) sakei (17.7%), aligning with previous research on traditional Portuguese fermented meat sausages. The phenotypic analysis of LAB isolates indicated diverse acidification capacities, proteolytic activities, and inhibitory effects against foodborne pathogens Listeria (L.) monocytogenes, Salmonella (S.) Typhimurium and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. Overall, lactobacilli displayed high inhibition activity against the pathogens S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, and S. Typhimurium. Although the mechanisms for the inhibition of pathogen growth need to be further elucidated, these findings enhance our understanding of LAB diversity and functionality in alheira sausages, contributing to product safety and quality.
Probiotic bacteria can provide health benefits when delivered in functional foods. This study involved isolation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from traditionally dried and salted anchovy fish and ...characterization of their survival in simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Promising strains were used to prepare fermented fish sausages which were then evaluated for cytotoxicity activity against two cancer cell-lines, antidiabetic activity as determined by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, and antioxidant and proteolytic activities in vitro, as compared to non-fermented control sausages.
Out of 85 LAB obtained, 13 isolates with high tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal digestion were obtained, which were identified as Enterococcus spp. Four E. faecium strains, one E. faecalis, and one E. durans were used separately to make fermented fish sausages. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition from fish sausages fermented by Enterococcus spp. ranged from 29.2 to 68.7% and 23.9 to 41.4%, respectively, during 21 days of storage. The cytotoxicity activities against Caco
and MCF-7 cells of fish sausages fermented with Enterococcus spp. ranged from 18.0 to 24% and 13.9 to 27.9%, respectively. Cytotoxicity activities correlated positively with proteolysis and antioxidant activities, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition activities, but negatively with the pH in fermented fish sausages. Strains also exhibited antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens and presented no significant concerns with regards to antibiotic resistance or virulence gene content.
Fish sausages fermented by potential probiotic isolates of Enterococcus spp. from dried fish had valuable health-promoting benefits compared with non-fermented control sausages.
Encapsulation of Lactobacillus plantarum in alginate spheres provides higher probiotic viability in dry‐sausages during chilled storage (60 days) and more appropriate physicochemical properties.
...Summary
The impact of free and encapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum addition on the physicochemical and microbiological properties during chilled storage (60 days) of dry‐fermented sausages have been studied. Control (C) treatment was performed without probiotic incorporation, and the reformulation was comprised of L. plantarum as free cells (F) in alginate spheres (EA), in water‐in‐oil simple emulsion (ESM) and in water‐in‐oil‐in‐water double emulsion (EDM). After 60 days of storage, lower (P < 0.05) lipid oxidation was observed in F and EA (0.602–0.625 mg MDA kg−1) while it was higher (P < 0.05) in EDM (1.949 mg MDA kg−1). Treatments C and ESM presented intermediate TBARS levels compared to other treatments at the end of storage. All dry‐fermented sausages presented high levels of lactic acid bacteria during the whole chilled storage (8.06–9.29 log CFU g−1 at day 0 and 8.02–9.35 log CFU g−1); however, EA treatment presented the highest L. plantarum viability even at 60 days of storage (8.34 log CFU g−1). Therefore, the strategy of L. plantarum inoculation in alginate spheres seems to be the best strategy for the delivery of probiotics during chilled storage of dry‐fermented sausages.
Summary
Ossein (OS) powder was prepared from bovine bone, ground and sieved through mesh screens to obtain two different particle sizes of 50 (OS50) and 200 mesh (OS200). Regarding OS property ...determination, average particle diameters of the OS50 and the OS200 were 260.08 ± 6.48 μm and 51.79 ± 0.39 μm, respectively. Based on non‐reducing electrophoresis, both OS samples consisted of α1‐ and α2‐chain of type I collagen. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed the presence of triple helical structure with partial unfolding of which the OS200 showed the greater denaturation extent. The OS200 also showed higher emulsion activity but lower oil absorption than those of the OS50. The emulsion‐type sausages containing OS powders (0.5% w/w) exhibited significantly lower total fluid, water, and fat releases than those of the sausages without OS. The OS200‐containing sausages exhibited the lowest expressible water and received the highest hedonic scores in texture and overall acceptance from consumer panel.
Size reduction signficantly affected functional properties, particularly emusion activity and oil binding capacity, of bovine ossein (OS) powder. Adding OS powder in emulsion‐type sausages significantly improved emulsion stability without altering sensory characteristics of the finished products.
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