Assessment of Sodium Lactate Addition to Fresh Pork Sausage

Sodium lactate was added to fresh pork sausage to determine its effect on refrigerated storage of chubs and retail display of patties. An additional treatment evaluated effects of sodium lactate in fresh sausage with added textured soy concentrate. In fresh sausage stored as 454g chubs, surface discoloration was reduced (P<0.01) and off-odor development abated (P<0.01) with addition of sodium lactate. The lag phase of microbial growth was extended from 10 to 20 days with sodium lactate. Under retail conditions, sodium lactate did not affect lean color (P>0.01) but resulted in more rapid surface discoloration (P<0.01). Presence of textured soy concentrate decreased (P<0.01) effectiveness of sodium lactate against microorganisms.     

Effect of hot-boned pork on the keeping quality of fresh pork sausage

The first experiment evaluated the effect of solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) addition to hot-boned meat, in different proportions, upon the keeping quality of fresh pork sausage patties. Dry ice had some negative effects at levels of 20% to 40%, such as hardening and colour fading of samples, although it increased water-holding capacity of the sausage. In the second experiment three proportions of hot-boned meat and chilled meat were evaluated as a means to extend the retail storage time of fresh pork sausage links. Hot-boned pork was treated by three methods: freezing the meat before grinding, salting and freezing, and salting plus dry ice addition. The results favoured the use of 50% hot-boned meat and 50% chilled meat, for which the lowest hardness and oxidation values were obtained. Microbial counts and hue values showed no significant variation among the three treatments. Salting and freezing hot-boned meat before grinding was the method which produced the best overall quality.     

Extent of microbial contamination in United States pork retail products

To determine the extent of microbiological contamination of U.S. pork, 384 samples of retail pork were collected from 24 stores in six cities, including (i) whole-muscle, store-packaged pork; (ii) fresh, store-packaged ground pork and/or pork sausage; (iii) prepackaged ground pork and/or pork sausage; and (iv) whole-muscle, enhanced (injected or marinated; 60% store-packaged, 40% prepackaged) pork. Additional samples (n = 120) of freshly ground pork and/or pork sausage were collected from two hot-boning sow/boar sausage plants, two slaughter and fabrication plants, and two further-processing plants. Samples were analyzed for aerobic plate counts (APC), total coliform counts (TCC), Escherichia coli counts (ECC), and incidences of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Yersinia enterocolitica. Mean log APC and TCC were highest (P < 0.05) for store-ground pork, while whole-muscle, enhanced products and prepackaged ground products had the lowest (P < 0.05) APC. Mean log APC and TCC were higher (P < 0.05) in samples from the slaughter and fabrication plants than in samples from hot-boning and further processing plants. Mean log ECC were lower (P < 0.05) in samples from further-processing plants compared to slaughter and fabrication plants and hot-boning, sow and boar sausage plants. L. monocytogenes was detected in 26.7% of plant samples and 19.8% of retail samples and was present more frequently in ground products. Y. enterocolitica was detected most often in whole-muscle, store-packaged cuts (19.8%) and in store-ground product (11.5%). Salmonella spp. were found in 9.6% of retail samples and 5.8% of plant samples, while C. jejuni and C. coli were found in 1.3% of retail samples and 6.7% of plant samples. Pork products exposed to the most handling and processing appeared to be of the poorest microbiological quality. These results should be useful in risk assessments that are directed at the identification of actions that could enhance food safety.     

DETECTION OF SPECIES ADULTERATION IN PORK PRODUCTS USING AGAR-GEL IMMUNODIFFUSION AND ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY

Mixing undeclared species in meat products is illegal under food labeling regulations. This study compared the conventional agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) with the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for detecting species adulteration and assessed the species adulteration problem in raw ground pork products in Alabama retail markets. Forty-two ground pork and 87 fresh pork sausage samples collected throughout Alabama were examined by AGID and ELISA for four species: pork, beef, poultry and sheep. Using ELISA, 91 % of the ground pork samples were found to contain other meats while 71 % were found to be contaminated using AGID. Using ELISA, 54% of the sausage samples were found to contain undeclared species while none were found to be contaminated using AGID. The major adulterating species in the pork products was beef followed by poultry and sheep. Reliable analytical methods, such as ELISA, must be used as a regulatory tool to discourage the meat species adulteration problem in retail markets.     

Effect of Acid and Alkaline Pyrophosphate Blends on the Natural Flora of a Cooked Meat System

Cooked pork sausage was prepared by using tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) and sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP) at 0 and 0.4% of the meat weight either separately or in different combinations. Samples were vacuum packaged and held in a refrigerated display case at 5°C for 21 days. Samples were also stored at room temperature (20-22°C) for 24 and 48 hr. Neither phosphate had an effect on microbial counts during refrigerated storage up to 21 days, but SAPP caused significantly lower counts of mesophilic and facultative anaerobic organisms after 48 hr of temperature abuse. The organisms affected were streptococci or very similar coccobacilli.     

Effects of Simulated Retail Display and Overnight Storage Treatments on Quality Maintenance in Fresh Broccoli

The quality of fresh broccoli during simulated retail display was evaluated using contact (ice) and air cooling separately and in combination. Chlorophyll and ascorbic acid were best maintained with air cooling, while weight was best maintained with ice cooling alone. In air-cooled display units, ice placed both on top of and beneath broccoli heads resulted in more rapid loss of chlorophyll and ascorbic acid than did bottom-icing alone. Bottom-iced broccoli in air-cooled units kept best overnight if left in place and covered with wet burlap. Removal to a 4°C walk-in cooler each night resulted in good color retention and marketability but weight loss after 4 days was significantly higher.     

Effects of pork muscle quality on bacterial growth and retail case life

The effects of muscle quality (PSE, normal, DFD) upon the bacteriology and retail case life of pork chops were determined. Pork loin chops were processed from boneless backs after 90 days of frozen storage at -30°C. Variation in bacterial numbers was due to a highly significant (p < 0·001) storage time by muscle quality interaction. During simulated retail display, total psychrotrophs, Pseudomonas spp., Brochothrix thermosphacta and Enterobacteriaceae were lowest on PSE pork and highest on DFD pork in comparison to normal pork. Differences in bacterial densities were due to a longer lag phase in PSE pork and a shorter lag phase in DFD pork than in normal pork. Of the three muscle quality groups, DFD was most susceptible to the development of spoilage odours, while PSE pork was most sensitive to deterioration in appearance.     

猪肉火腿肠综合品质的研究

对在超市购买的3种猪肉火腿肠的理化指标、微生物指标、感官评定、质构特性、微观结构和色泽进行了研究,结果表明,3种猪肉肠的硬度、胶着性、咀嚼性、剪切力和亮度值存在显著性差异;猪肉肠A和C的弹性与猪肉肠B的弹性存在显著性差异;猪肉肠A和B的内聚性与猪肉肠C的内聚性存在显著性差异;3种猪肉肠的硬度和胶着性、咀嚼性和剪切力数值依次减小;猪肉肠A、B的理化指标和微生物指标总体相对较好,猪肉肠A的色泽最好,猪肉肠B的口感、风味和微观结构最好,两者的总体接受性相当,猪肉肠C的嫩度好。综合各指标总体评价,猪肉肠A和B的综合品质好于猪肉肠C。     

Effect of Acid and Neutral Pyrophosphates on the Natural Bacterial Flora of a Cooked Meat System

The microbiological effects of selected pyrophosphates were studied in cooked, vacuum-packaged pork sausage stored at 7°C for 21 days, or at 20–22°C for 24 and 48 hr. Neutral trisodium pyrophosphate (PYRO-3) and sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP) were tested at 0 and 0.4% meat weight, separately or in combinations. Both phosphates had an effect after 21 days refrigerated storage (7°C), with lower mesophilic counts than controls with no phosphate. Both phosphates also resulted in significantly lower counts of mesophilic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms in sausage after 48 hr elevated temperature (20–22°C) holding. The organisms affected were mainly streptococci.     

Extrusion for Producing Low-fat Pork and its Use in Sausage as Affected by Soy Protein Isolate

Low-fat pork was produced at extrusion temperatures (ET) of 25, 32.2,43.3,54.4, or 65.6°C with addition of soy protein isolate (SPI) at 0,1.5, or 3% and evaluated by measuring chemical and physical properties of low-fat pork sausage links. ET and SPI addition influenced moisture retention and fat reduction. The highest ET(65.5°C) gave the highest fat reduction in extrudates. TBARS decreased as ET and SPI increased. Extrudates at higher ET made darker and redder sausages. The hardness value of the control was not different from that of sausages from 65.6°C ET extrudates. The fat-reduced sausages were more springy and cohesive than the control. Depending on fat reduction, twin-screw extrusion influenced sausage color, texture, and lipid oxidation. The sausage links from 65.6°C ET extrudates with 1.5% SPI had the lowest fat, lowest TBARS, least cooking loss and were not different in hardness from control high-fat sausages.     

固定化酶改性酸法大豆浓缩蛋白在猪肉肠中应用的研究

利用固定化谷氨酰胺转氨酶(MTG)对酸法大豆浓缩蛋白(SPC)进行改性,并将改性SPC应用于猪肉肠.试验表明:改性后SPC的持水性和吸油性分别比未改性SPC提高了24.8%和64.5%;与大豆分离蛋白(SPI)相比,其凝胶性和吸油性分别高出58.3%和27.0%,持水性则降低8.0%.改性后的SPC用于猪肉肠中,当添加量为6%时,猪肉肠的咀嚼性比未改性SPC和SPI分别提高了418.6%和187.1%;得率比未改性SPC和SPI分别提高了18.9%和4.8%,感官评分结果也与其相一致.     

Development of a healthy low-fat fish sausage containing dietary fibre

In order to develop a healthy low-fat fish sausage containing dietary fibre (DF), three fundamental changes were made to an ordinary pork sausage recipe: incorporation of 4% (w/w) of Swelite^® (a DF obtained from inner pea), different levels of pork meat replacement (0%, 50% and 100%) by hake mince and the combination of varying amounts of Fibruline^® (a DF obtained from chicory root) and hake mince (Fibruline: additional hake mince, 2.6:5.2, 5.2:2.6 and 7.8:0.0, % w/w) as a substitute for pork fat. It was found that the addition of Swelite to pork sausage favoured greater gel strength and hardness. On the contrary, increasing levels of pork meat replacement by hake reduced the sausages’ gel strength and hardness. Finally, sausages without pork fat showed promising textural and colour parameters. High-Fibruline sausages were less cohesive and chewable than pork fat sausages (control), but also exhibited a greater gel strength. Low-Fibruline ones presented almost all textural properties similar to the control, with exception of hardness and gumminess. Therefore, regarding some key textural parameters, it was possible to produce low-fat fish sausages similar to the ordinary pork sausages.     

Acceptability and Sensory Analysis of Pork Summer Sausage from Pigs Administered Porcine Somatotropin

Summer sausages were formulated to contain 20% fat from the following raw meat sources: (1) pork and beef blend, (2) 100% pork from control pigs, and (3) 100% pork from pigs administered 4 mg/ day porcine somatotropin (pSt). Sausages were evaluated by a trained sensory panel and by 1192 consumers. Summer sausage from the pSt-treated pigs and the pork/beef blend was firmer and more chewy than that made from 100% control pork. The beef/pork blend sausage was darker, more red and less yellow when compared with sausage made with 100% pork. Sausage from pSt-treated pigs received greater acceptability scores and was preferred by 62% of consumers when compared with sausage from control pigs.     

卡拉胶、转谷氨酰胺酶及大豆分离蛋白对猪PSE肉低温香肠保水性和感官品质的影响

为研究卡拉胶、转谷氨酰胺酶（transglutaminase,TG）及大豆分离蛋白对猪PSE（pale、soft、exudative）肉低温香肠保水性和感官品质的影响,通过单因素试验和L9（34）正交试验,以蒸煮损失和感官品质为参考指标,确定最适添加量。结果表明：单独添加卡拉胶或大豆分离蛋白可以明显改善猪PSE肉低温香肠的蒸煮损失（P＜0.05）,TG添加量超过0.6%会导致猪PSE肉低温香肠的保水性发生显著下降（P＜0.05）;正交试验进一步优化后确定卡拉胶、TG及大豆分离蛋白的最适添加量分别为0.5%、0.2%和4%;通过优选后的正交工艺进行验证发现,该工艺对猪PSE肉低温香肠的保水性和感官品质有明显的改善作用。     

大豆7S 球蛋白酶解产物在猪肉肠中的应用

本研究以大豆为原料提取7S 球蛋白,并对其进行酶法水解。以质构特性、凝胶强度、肉肠得率为评价指标,比较添加不同水解度和不同添加量的7S 酶解蛋白对猪肉肠品质的影响。采用二因素三水平正交试验,确定肉肠专用比,蛋白的最佳工艺参数为7S 球蛋白水解度为11%、添加量为1.5%。     

Prevalence and genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii in pork from retail meat stores in Eastern China

Pork is known as one of the most important sources of Toxoplasma gondii infection in China. In the present study, 416 fresh pork samples were collected from different locations of Anhui province, Eastern China. Tissue fluid ELISA was conducted to detect the antibodies to T. gondii. Real-time PCR and bioassay were performed to identify the presence of T. gondii DNA and viable parasites, respectively. Seventy-five out of 416 samples (18.03%) demonstrated real-time PCR positive reaction and 42 out of 416 samples (10.1%) showed tissue fluid ELISA positive reaction. One isolate (Tgpkfx171) was obtained through bioassay in mice from 14 samples that demonstrated both PCR and ELISA positive reaction. The isolate and seven positive DNA samples were genotyped using 9 PCR-RFLP markers including SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico. Among these, only the isolate and two positive DNA samples were genotyped with complete data for all loci, belonging to ToxoDB#9 (Chinese 1) and ToxoDB#213, respectively. This is the first report of the prevalence and genetic typing of T. gondii from pork in retail meat stores in China. The present results provide an accurate picture of the risk of exposure to T. gondii in retail pork in China.     

Flavor and Nutrient Composition of a Sausage Ball Snack-type Food Made From Pork or Catfish

Ground catfish flavored with pork sausage seasoning was used in a sausage ball snack-type food and the product was compared to pork sausage balls for sensory and nutrient differences. Triangle tests were not significant (P > 0.05). Protein (p ≦ 0.01), fat (p ≦ 0.01), and nitrogen free extract (p ≦ 0.05) were significantly different between the two products. Moisture, crude fiber, ash, sodium, and potassium content were not significantly different (P > 0.05). In the proportions used in this study, catfish sausage is useful as a substitute for pork sausage.     

Prevalence and number of Salmonella in irish retail pork sausages

A national Salmonella control program in the pork industry was enacted in Ireland in August 2002. This study was undertaken as part of a larger project investigating the role of pork as a source of human salmonellosis in Ireland. The objective of this survey was to assess the prevalence of Salmonella in Irish pork sausage at retail level. Samples, comprising branded prepacked sausages and loose sausages from supermarket meat counters and butcher shops, were collected from selected retail sites in four cities from October to December 2001 and from June to August 2002. A three-tube most-probable-number method was used to enumerate Salmonella in a selected number of samples that were positive by enrichment. Salmonella serotypes were detected in 4.4 and 1.7% of samples at each of the respective sampling periods, a level similar to those reported in other U.S. and U.K. studies. Isolates were characterized by serotype, phage type, and antimicrobial susceptibility. Eighteen (70%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, and 15 (58%) were resistant to four or more antimicrobials. Most of the isolates exhibited resistance to tetracycline. Five different phage types were detected. DT104 was the predominant phage type among Salmonella Typhimurium isolates. This study revealed that multidrug-resistant salmonellae are present in a proportion of Irish sausages and that further risk analysis work is necessary in order to quantify the risk posed to public health.     

Effects of distribution packaging method and storage time on the physical properties and retail display characteristics of pork

The sensory characteristics of pork chops from bone-in loins and Boston butts (n = 65 each) were affected little by primal loin and the butt packaging method (paper wrap, vacuum pack and gas flush) and storage time (7, 10 and 14 days) under industry conditions. However, loin chops fabricated from vacuum-packaged loins after 14 days of storage had less (P < 0·05) discoloration and two-toning than chops fabricated from other loins. All loin chops were placed in retail display and overwrapped with a polyvinyl chloride film after fabrication at each storage time. Vacuum-packed butts stored for 10 and 14 days produced chops with less discoloration and two-toning, and higher overall appearance scores (P < 0·05) compared to chops from paper-wrapped or gas-flushed cuts. Vacuum-packaging resulted in higher quality retail cuts than paper-wrapped or gas-flushed packaging. Thus, it is recommended that the pork industry and retail distribution system utilize vacuum-packaging as the primary method to store and ship fresh pork before retail sale.