The role of rabbit meat as functional food

Increasing consumer knowledge of the link between diet and health has raised the awareness and demand for functional food ingredients. Meat and its derivatives may be considered functional foods to the extent that they contain numerous compounds thought to be functional. This review will attempt to outline the excellent nutritional and dietetic properties of rabbit meat and offer an overview of the studies performed on the strategies adopted to improve the functional value of rabbit meat. Dietary manipulation has been seen to be very effective in increasing the levels of essential FA, EPA, DHA, CLA, branched chain FA, vitamin E, and selenium in rabbit meat. Dietary fortification with vitamin E or natural products such as oregano essential oil, chia seed oil, and Spirulina platensis microalga seem promising in improving the oxidative stability of rabbit meat while also adding functional ingredients.     

Strategies for designing novel functional meat products

In recent years, much attention has been paid to physiological functions of foods due to increasing concerns for health. Although there has been limited information of physiological functions of meat until recently, several attractive meat-based bioactive compounds, such as carnosine, anserine, l-carnitine, conjugated linoleic acid, have been studied. Emphasizing these activities is one possible approach for improving the health image of meat and developing functional meat products. This article provides potential benefits of representative meat-based bioactive compounds on human health and an overview of meat-based functional products. Strategies for designing novel functional meat products utilizing bioactive peptides and/or probiotic bacteria, is also discussed. This article focuses particularly on the possibility of meat protein-derived bioactive peptides, such as antihypertensive peptides. There are still some hurdles in developing and marketing novel functional meat products since such products are unconventional and consumers in many countries recognize meat and meat products to be bad for health. Along with accumulation of scientific data, there is an urgent need to inform consumers of the exact functional value of meat and meat products including novel functional foods.     

Development and assessment of healthy properties of meat and meat products designed as functional foods

This review deals with the two major aspects to be considered in the context of meat-based functional foods and human health. One involves the different strategies used to improve (increase or reduce) the presence of bioactive (healthy and unhealthy) compounds in meat and meat products in order to develop potential meat-based functional foods; these strategies are basically concerned with animal production practices, meat processing and storage, distribution and consumption conditions. Since the link between the consumption of those foods and their potentially beneficial effects (improving health and/or reducing the risk of several chronic diseases) needs to be demonstrated scientifically, the second aspect considered is related to intervention studies to examine the functional capacity of meat-based potentially functional foods in humans, discussing how the functionality of a food can be assessed in terms of its effects on health in relation to both target body functions and risk factors.     

Strategies to improve the nutritional value of meat products: incorporation of bioactive compounds,reduction or elimination of harmful components and alternative technologies

Meat is an excellent source of protein with a good balance of amino acids. It is also rich in several minerals, vitamins and bioactive compounds, which play important roles in metabolism and are easily assimilated from meat compared with other foods. The nutritional value of meat is one of the factors that influence consumer acceptance. However, it can be significantly reduced during processing. Moreover, some operations, such as curing, smoking or fermentation, used for processing can lead to the formation of harmful components in meat, and hence, nutritionists associate high consumption of processed meat with an increased risk of several diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and cancers. This review deals with the distinctive aspects of the technological strategies that can be used to improve the nutritional value of meat products, including the incorporation of bioactive components, reduction or elimination of harmful components (e.g. nitrite/nitrate, fat) and alternative technologies (ultrasound).     

肉中的功能性成分及其营养调控

近年来人们越来越重视生产具有功能性作用的肉及肉制品,作者综述了肉中的n-3多不饱和脂肪酸,共轭亚油酸、维生素E、硒等4种功能性成分,以及通过营养手段对肉中这些功能性成分进行调控。     

Meat as a functional food with special reference to probiotic sausages

Consumers believe that foods are associated directly to their health. Today foods are not only used to satisfy our hunger but also to provide indispensible nutrients for humans and these nutrients having the health benefits regarding in controlling the diseases. The market for functional foods has seen a sharp rise in demand in the recent years. This has driven researchers to multiply their efforts in producing functional meat products also. Feed manipulation and post-mortem modification of meat coupled with enrichment of bioactive compounds are gaining importance. This review discusses the candidate ingredients and strategies, utilized in crafting such functional meat products, and the notable developments and commercial successes in functional meat industry. Dry fermented sausages meet the conditions required to carry viable probiotic microbes. This article enlists various microorganisms that are being commercially used in functional food products and potential bacteria for probiotic sausage production.     

Novel approaches in improving the quality and safety aspects of processed meat products through high pressure processing technology - A review

BackgroundIn recent years, there has been growing consumer demand for the minimally processed and chemical additives free Ready-To-Eat (RTE) healthier meat products. On the other hand processed and RTE meat products have been notified as the primary cause for food borne outbreaks in different countries that commonly associated with emerging pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli species.Scope and approachHigh pressure processing (HPP) has been renewed as a best non-thermal intervention for extending the shelf-life and safety of RTE meat products without altering the sensory and nutritional properties. Meat products are complex medium with different physical and chemical compositions that influence the lethality of the microorganisms during HPP. Using high pressure levels (above 600 MPa) for complete sterility of meat products may not be economically feasible more over it may negatively affect the product quality characteristics. The present review aimed to explore the recent research investigations addressed the multi hurdle approaches to increase the effectiveness of HPP at lower processing levels in order to reduce the processing costs and to improve the safety and quality of processed meat products.Key findings and conclusionsThe combination of natural antimicrobials (plant bioactive compounds and bacteriocins) and antioxidants (plant phenolic compounds) as additional hurdles through different mechanisms (active and intelligent packaging) during HPP can definitely be an effective and innovative intervention in ensuring the complete safety of processed meat products. Moreover, the development of low salt meat products with optimum quality attributes can be highly possible through HPP technology.     

Integration of Emerging Biomedical Technologies in Meat Processing to Improve Meat Safety and Quality

Modern‐day processing of meat products involves a series of complex procedures designed to ensure the quality and safety of the meat for consumers. As the size of abattoirs increases, the logistical problems associated with large‐capacity animal processing can affect the sanitation of the facility and the meat products, potentially increasing transmission of infectious diseases. Additionally, spoilage of food from improper processing and storage increases the global economic and ecological burden of meat production. Advances in biomedical and materials science have allowed for the development of innovative new antibacterial technologies that have broad applications in the medical industry. Additionally, new approaches in tissue engineering and nondestructive cooling of biological specimens could significantly improve organ transplantation and tissue grafting. These same strategies may be even more effective in the preservation and protection of meat as animal carcasses are easier to manipulate and do not have the same stringent requirements of care as living patients. This review presents potential applications of emerging biomedical technologies in the food industry to improve meat safety and quality. Future research directions investigating these new technologies and their usefulness in the meat processing chain along with regulatory, logistical, and consumer perception issues will also be discussed.     

肌红蛋白在加工贮藏过程中结构与功能特性的变化及其对肉制品色泽的影响研究进展

肌红蛋白是一种主要存在于肌浆中的色素蛋白质,可以赋予和提升肉及肉制品在加工、贮藏和消费过程中的色泽。在肉制品加工过程中,引起肌红蛋白结构变化的因素有很多,而蛋白质结构的改变会引起其功能特性的改变,从而对肉制品的色泽产生影响。本文主要介绍肉及肉制品中肌红蛋白在加工和贮藏过程中的结构变化,并综述了结构变化引起的肌红蛋白功能特性改变,以期为肉及肉制品的品质控制提供参考。     

Thermal processing implications on the digestibility of meat,fish and seafood proteins

Thermal processing is an inevitable part of the processing and preparation of meat and meat products for human consumption. However, thermal processing techniques, both commercial and domestic, induce modifications in muscle proteins which can have implications for their digestibility. The nutritive value of muscle proteins is closely related to their digestibility in the gastrointestinal tract and is determined by the end products that it presents in the assimilable form (amino acids and small peptides) for the absorption. The present review examines how different thermal processing techniques, such as sous-vide, microwave, stewing, roasting, boiling, frying, grilling, and steam cooking, affect the digestibility of muscle proteins in the gastrointestinal tract. By altering the functional and structural properties of muscle proteins, thermal processing has the potential to influence the digestibility negatively or positively, depending on the processing conditions. Thermal processes such as sous-vide can induce favourable changes, such as partial unfolding or exposure of cleavage sites, in muscle proteins and improve their digestibility whereas processes such as stewing and roasting can induce unfavourable changes, such as protein aggregation, severe oxidation, cross linking or increased disulfide (S-S) content and decrease the susceptibility of proteins during gastrointestinal digestion. The review examines how the underlying mechanisms of different processing conditions can be translated into higher or lower protein digestibility in detail. This review expands the current understanding of muscle protein digestion and generates knowledge that will be indispensable for optimizing the digestibility of thermally processed muscle foods for maximum nutritional benefits and optimal meal planning.     

传统腌腊肉制品挥发性风味物质的研究进展

本文以干腌火腿、腊肉、风鸭、发酵香肠和风干鱼制品为代表,对中国传统腌腊肉制品的挥发性风味物质进行了探讨。从总体上阐述了我国传统腌腊肉制品挥发性风味的形成机理,详尽列表总结分析了不同制品的特征风味化合物,分析它们之间的共性与异性,并从原料特性及加工工艺两个主要方面分析了差异性形成的可能原因。一方面,丰富了传统腌腊肉制品的形成机制,另一方面,为生产调控肉制品的风味提供理论依据。     

Healthier meat and meat products: their role as functional foods

This review deals with the implications of meat and meat products for human health. It analyses the effect of the presence or absence of various factors: fat, fatty acid composition, cholesterol, calorific value, salt, nitrite or lipid oxidation products that can cause health problems. Bearing in mind these considerations, it then describes the strategies used in animal production, treatment of meat raw material and reformulation of meat products to obtain healthier meat and meat products. Functional ingredients are responsible for making functional foods work, and this review therefore discusses the scope of current meat technology to favour the presence of various active-food components, and provide an additional physiological benefit beyond that of meeting basic nutritional needs.     

酶法改性技术及其在植物基肉制品中的应用研究进展

植物蛋白经挤压结构重组可形成具有类似动物肉品质特征的植物基肉制品,作为动物肉的有益补充,对实现蛋白质高值化利用和保障高效供给具有重要意义。但目前的植物基肉制品还存在产品弹性不足、结构松散、多汁性较差等突出问题,多以碎肉形式用于肉丸、肉饼、饺子等肉制品添加物,尚不能完全满足我国消费者的需求。酶法改性技术具有安全、高效、绿色等特点,可对蛋白质结构进行修饰改性,改善产品质构和风味等品质,已广泛应用于肉制品的研究和产品开发,在植物基肉制品中也展现出良好的应用前景。本文总结动植物蛋白之间化学结构与功能特性的差异,分析酶法改性对蛋白质结构修饰改性的机理并列举其在肉制品中的应用,综述酶法改性结合挤压技术工艺在植物基肉制品中应用的最新进展,以期为我国新型植物基肉制品的研发和品质提升提供参考。     

发酵肉制品加工中衍生的非健康因子控制研究进展

通过微生物发酵的方法,开发肉制品新种类,来达到改善肉品的营养价值,增加风味的目的。然而,由于发酵体系中的不良微生物或发酵原料本身都有可能导致发酵食品中存在一些非健康因子,进而危害人体健康。本文对发酵肉制品加工中衍生的醛类、多环芳烃等内源非健康因子,以及生物胺、亚硝胺等与微生物相关的外源非健康因子的形成机制及其危害进行论述,并从传统方法和生物技术手段两个层面阐述控制非健康因子产生的主要策略,旨在对发酵肉制品产业化生产中,有效降低非健康因子危害,提高食品安全性,为促进发酵肉制品产业健康发展提供参考。     

Recovery and utilization of effluents from meat processing industries

Production of wastes during the processing of meat products is not desirable because it significantly deteriorates the quality of the final product as well as causes some serious health threats if not properly disposed-off. The majority of the waste, in the meat industry is produced during slaughtering. The composition of waste generated by the meat industry depends on species of animals slaughtered. The waste material of the meat processing industry contains plentiful amount of organic compounds due to which its disposal is quite difficult. Efficient utilization of by-products has direct impact on the economy of the country and reduce environmental pollution. Edible meat by-products are claimed to have high nutritional value as compared to the lean meat. Organ meats can be used for human consumption, animal feed production and medicinal purposes after proper treatment and processing. This article provides information regarding the waste material generated by meat processing plants, its health impacts, nutritional status of meat by-products and their utilization.     

肉制品中生物胺形成与控制研究进展

生物胺是一类含氮的脂肪族胺、芳香族胺或杂环类低分子有机化合物,主要通过微生物分泌的氨基酸脱羧酶作用于氨基酸产生。肉制品中生物胺降低产品质量、缩短货架期,同时,过量的生物胺对人体健康存在潜在威胁。本文综述原料肉、工艺条件、微生物等主要影响肉制品生物胺形成的因素,归纳肉制品中生物胺的相关控制措施,提出采用多种技术相结合、优势互补的方式,有助于形成肉制品中整个产业链的防控体系,切实解决肉制品行业的质量安全问题。     

超高压对肉及肉制品组织结构和主要化学组成分影响的研究进展

超高压作为一种新型冷杀菌技术,不仅具有杀菌、灭酶、保留产品特色风味和色泽等特点,还可以显著改善肉制品的质构和保油保水性,可以生产适合厌食症患者食用的新型口感的低温凝胶类肉制品,这是通过对蛋白质等肌肉化学组成分的高压修饰实现的.本文对超高压技术的原理进行简单介绍,并综述了超高压对肉及肉制品各组织结构(肌肉组织、结缔组织和脂肪组织)及化学成分(水分及蛋白质)影响的研究进展,旨在为该新技术在肉及肉制品中的应用提供相应理论参考.     

Application of microbial transglutaminase in meat foods: A review

Microbial transglutaminase (MTG) is an enzyme isolated from a variant of Streptomyces mobaraensis that forms covalent cross-links between protein molecules. Studies are being conducted since last two decades on utilization of MTG in meat foods to improve their characteristics, such as gelation, water-binding, emulsion stability, purge loss, cooking loss, etc. MTG is one of the important topics of interest in meat processing industry due to its advantages in practical utilization and commercial exploitation. This review will discuss about the overall applications of MTG in manipulating the functional properties of meat and meat products by means of various processes such as restructuring, value addition, etc.     

食用菌在肉制品中的应用研究进展

健康肉制品更符合当前人们的消费观念。食用菌在功能性多糖、蛋白质和生物活性化合物方面的优势,使其成为改善肉制品营养状况的理想选择。本文综述近几年食用菌作为动物脂肪、动物蛋白质和盐类(食盐、磷酸盐和亚硝酸盐)替代物、风味添加剂和天然抗氧化剂在肉制品中的应用进展,并展望食用菌在肉制品中应用的发展方向,为健康和“清洁标签”等新型肉制品的研发提供支持。     

The science of plant-based foods: Constructing next-generation meat,fish, milk,and egg analogs

Consumers are increasingly demanding foods that are more ethical, sustainable and nutritious to improve the health of themselves and the planet. The food industry is currently undergoing a revolution, as both small and large companies pivot toward the creation of a new generation of plant-based products to meet this consumer demand. In particular, there is an emphasis on the production of plant-based foods that mimic those that omnivores are familiar with, such as meat, fish, egg, milk, and their products. The main challenge in this area is to simulate the desirable appearance, texture, flavor, mouthfeel, and functionality of these products using ingredients that are isolated entirely from botanical sources, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. The molecular, chemical, and physical properties of plant-derived ingredients are usually very different from those of animal-derived ones. It is therefore critical to understand the fundamental properties of plant-derived ingredients and how they can be assembled into structures resembling those found in animal products. This review article provides an overview of the current status of the scientific understanding of plant-based foods and highlights areas where further research is required. In particular, it focuses on the chemical, physical, and functional properties of plant-derived ingredients; the processing operations that can be used to convert these ingredients into food products; and, the science behind the formulation of vegan meat, fish, eggs, and milk alternatives.