Factors affecting acceptability of dry-cured ham throughout extended maturation under "bodega" conditions

The evolution of biochemical, instrumental colour and texture, sensory parameters and consumer acceptability of 12-month dry-cured hams maintained up to 26 months under “bodega” conditions (18 °C, 75% relative humidity) was assessed, in order to investigate the influence of extended ripening on their sensory characteristics and acceptability. Results demonstrated that ham acceptability showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) from 12 to 22 months, while it decreased significantly (p < 0.05) until 26 months. Principal component analysis of all data brought about a comprehensive explanation of the biochemical, instrumental and sensory parameters involved in the acceptability decrease. In fact, high pastiness and adhesiveness values, as measured by both sensory and instrumental methods, appeared to be most related to decreasing acceptability. Those attributes were the result of an excessive proteolysis, as revealed by biochemical maturation indices.     

Technical–economic evaluation of a small-scale model plant for the manufacture of pine glue laminated timber

A small-scale glue laminated timber (GLT) model plant, capable of producing an average of 880 linear m of lamellas per day, approximately 1500 m³/year, located in Castilla y León, Spain, was technically and economically evaluated. The production of such plant is aimed at substituting imports of GLT manufactured from spruce in Central Europe. The total investment considered for this theoretical operation was 455 k€. The raw material proposed was Pinus sylvestris classified according to UNE 56544 as ME-2. The external lamellas were defined as ME-1, upgraded from ME-2 by the removal of knots and deformations, which gives an average block length of 1825 and 3800 mm for external and internal lamellas, respectively. The effective stiffness of such configuration was modeled, rendering beams that could be assigned to class resistance GL24. Production costs were 770 k€, 52% of which were timber as raw material. The volume of production is affected by the combination of products manufactured; therefore, this variable was presented as a function of economic result, defining zones of product-mix that would be economically unfeasible, feasible with reservations, and feasible. The products to be manufactured were straight beams, 6-m long, of 9 different cross-sections, varying from 80?×?120 mm² to 200?×?600 mm². Additionally, production volume, wood cost, and block length are identified as critical parameters for the sensitivity analysis of the plant. Considering a wood cost for ME-2 of 220 €/m³, the plant must operate at 70% of its capacity to be economically feasible. The economic result of the operation increases proportionally to block length. The plant generates an EBIT of 51 k€, PNV of 415 k€ (discount rate of 4%), and an IRR of 19%.

     

Volatile compound generation in dry fermented sausages by the surface inoculation of selected mould species

The effect of the inoculation of dry fermented sausage surface with an atoxigenic, proteolytic and lipolytic strain of Mucor racemosus, Penicillium aurantiogriseum and Penicillium camemberti on the volatile composition was studied. The analysis of the headspace volatile compounds using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry enabled the identification of 55 volatiles. The study showed that every mould species produced a different volatile profile which was also different from that of the control sausages. Compounds derived from amino acid catabolism, i.e. branched aldehydes and the corresponding alcohols, were produced in higher amounts in sausages inoculated with Penicillium spp. On the other hand, volatiles coming from the microbial esterification were related to sausages inoculated with M. racemosus. The development of the fungal mycelia on the sausage surface protected lipids from oxidation, thus giving rise to fewer lipid oxidation products in the inoculated sausages.     

Flavour- and tenderness-related quality characteristics of goat and sheep meat

The quality characteristics of 27 Angora goats, Boer goats and sheep carcases were compared. Significant differences exist between the quality characteristics of sheep meat and Angora or Boer goat meat. Sheep meat has a more intense aroma, it is more tender, contains less fibrous tissue residue and the species flavour is more pronounced (typical) than that of Angora and Boer goat meat. In general, goat meat was found to be significantly different to sheep meat, the Angora to a lesser extent, however, than the Boer goat. This study confirms the fact that the meat of younger animals is more tender, contains less fibrous tissue residue and the species flavour is less typical than that of older animals. This was irrespective of whether it was obtained from sheep, Angora or Boer goat. With increasing fatness of carcases, the tenderness and species flavour of the cooked cuts increased significantly.     

Cooking- and juiciness-related quality characteristics of goat and sheep meat

Significant differences exist between the quality characteristics of meat obtained from 27 sheep, Angora and Boer goat carcases, when compared. Sheep meat showed greater drip loss than goat meat and was more juicy than that of Angora and Boer goat meat. In general, Angora goat meat was found to be more juicy than Boer goat meat. Drip loss increased significantly with increased animal age. Meat of younger animals (no permanent incisors) was more juicy (initial and sustained) than that of older animals (7–8 permanent incisors). This was irrespective of whether it was obtained from sheep, Angora or Boer goats and was confirmed by the expressible moisture measurements. Higher drip, evaporation and total cooking loss were reported when carcases had increased fat content. With increasing fatness of carcases, the juiciness of the cooked cuts decreased and the expressible moisture content of the meat increased.     

A probabilistic approach to determine thermal process setting parameters: application for commercial sterility of products

The objective of the probabilistic data analysis presented in this paper was to enable the thermal process to be set on actual data rather than on generic or conservative rules. The application was an ambient stable soup product, heated in a continuous UHT line. The data set comes from a decade of microbiological analysis: initial spore load and survival spore concentration after moderate heat-treatment (100 °C for 15 min and 110 °C for 15 min) have been enumerated in forty eight ingredients. The probabilistic analysis was carried out within a risk-based context, considering a Performance Objective, PO, set after the heat-treatment process and an initial spore contamination (H₀) at the ingredient mixing step. The probabilistic analysis was based upon Bayesian inference, chosen for its flexibility when dealing with censored data (some values were reported as less than 1 log cfu/g) and also for its ability to incorporate in the data analysis prior information. Beforehand, Z values around 10 °C for aerobic bacterial spores, and log count error around 1 log, were assumed. The methodology and the results are reported using two ingredients (garlic and milk powder) illustrating the ‘not detected’ (censored data) issue and also the inter-ingredient variability. Indeed, Z was estimated to be 13.6 °C (mean) for spores selected from garlic and 5.9 °C for those selected from milk powder. Based upon a hypothetical soup recipe with these two ingredients, the sterilization value was estimated to be 13 min (95th percentile). The potential use of similar methodology to design and set the sterilization value for the thermal process of future products, is discussed.