Comparison of the Effect of Enhancing Dry Fermented Sausages with Salvia hispanica and Nigella sativa Seed on Selected Physicochemical Properties Related to Food Safety during Processing

The aim of the study is to compare the effects of Salvia hispanica (Chia) seed and Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) seed in traditionally produced dry fermented sausages with reduced nitrites on the changes in physicochemical parameters (water content, pH, and water activity), thioarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), color parameters, the content of nitrosopigments, and microbial counts throughout the production process. At the end of the processing, the content of biogenic amines was also determined. Five samples were analyzed during the 30-day production process: the control sample, samples with 1% and 2% additions of chia seed, and samples with 1% and 2% additions of black cumin seed. It was indicated that the addition of chia or black cumin did not exert any effect on water content or water activity changes in fermented sausages. At the end of production, the samples were characterized by low water activity, in the range of 0.798–0.813. The sausages with chia seeds were characterized by the lowest pH due to the highest proliferation of lactic acid bacteria. TBARS values did not alter in both control and black cumin sausages throughout the experiment. Microbiological analysis showed that the addition of chia or black cumin seed enhances the proliferation of the lactic acid bacteria and caused a reduction in the number of Enterobacteriaceae in comparison to the control.

Nitrite content in meat products from the Serbian market and estimated intake

The aim of this study was to determine levels of nitrites in some meat products sold on the Serbian market over a period of 3 years (2018-2020) and to compare results with maximum residue levels as well to discuss dietary exposure of the Serbian adult population to nitrites.A total of 1291 meat product samples, produced by the Serbian meat industry or imported (509 dry fermented sausages, 37 semi-dry fermented sausages, 451 finely minced cooked sausages and 294 coarsely minced cooked sausages), were obtained from the Serbian retail market during 2018-2020.Higher mean levels of nitrite content, expressed as NaNO2, were found in cooked sausages (40.35 mg kg-1, finely minced and 33.75 mg kg-1, coarsely minced) compared to fermented sausages (1.86 mg kg-1 dry fermented and 1.83 mg kg-1, semi-dry fermented).The average dietary exposure to nitrites, expressed as nitrite ion, for the Serbian adult population varies from 0.001 to 0.015 mg kg-1body weight (BW) day-1 and was far below the European acceptable daily intake (0.07 mg kg-1 BW day-1). In conclusion, the concentrations of nitrite in all meat products were below established maximum permitted levels (national and European), indicating that the use of nitrite as a food additive in Serbia is generally in line with existing regulations.

Essential oils as natural additives in dry-fermented sausages

The usage of food additives is one of the key methods for inhibiting microorganisms’ growth and delaying oxidative changes in dry-fermented sausages (DFS). However, they have numerous negative health effects, so the novel meat industry is oriented towards different natural alternatives while focusing on plant extracts, including essential oils (EOs). EOs are interesting since they are generally recognized as safe (marked as GRAS) and have a broad acceptance from the consumers. Their activity depends on numerous parameters including the method of extraction, concentrations and possible synergistic effects of their bioactive compounds. Various conventional (hydrodistillation and organic solvent extraction) and novel (microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted and supercritical fluid extraction) extraction techniques are being applied for EO recovery, and optimization of these process is an essential step towards cost-effective production of high-quality extracts. Generally, it can be concluded that EOs are added into DFS to delay or prevent lipid oxidation, retard microorganisms’ growth, improve colour stability and extend the shelf-life.

Selected physicochemical, technological, and hygienic characteristics of artisanal and sausages produced with functional starter culture

Fast acidification is one of the main factors of microbial stability of dry fermented sausages. Development of functional starter cultures for improving safety of sausages without altering their quality is under way. This study compared aspects of physicochemical, technological, hygienic and instrumental quality of sausages produced with or without functional starter culture. Finished sausages with starter had lower water activity and lower levels of enterobacteria and lactic acid bacteria, compared to artisanal ones. During most of the ripening, pH was lower in sausages with starter, but in the final products, the same pH was observed in both groups of sausages. In sausages with starter lower redness was determined than in artisanal sausages, while other parameters, colour and chewiness, did not differ significantly. Use of starter culture improved physicochemical, technological and hygienic characteristics of the final products.

Goat meat products

In general, goat meat is not inferior to other meat types regarding nutritional and biological value–it has a high protein content (up to 29%), and it is a good source of minerals, vitamin B-complex, and essential amino acids. However, the meat of older and culled goats is less juicy, less tender, has a characteristically different odour and taste compared to kids’ goat meat (and meat of other animals), and thus tends to be less desirable. Different meat products could be produced using goat meat (including culled goat meat): dry-fermented sausages (e.g. sucuk), dry-cured meats (Violino di capra–goat prosciutto), frankfurters, mortadella, etc. without adverse effects on products' technological properties. The negative impact of goat meat on the properties of meat products is mainly associated with the use of goat fatty tissue. However, this could be overcome by using fatty tissue of other animals (e.g. pork back fat or beef fatty tissue).

Health lipid indices of dry fermented sausages made of pork meat

This research presents the results of a comparison assessment of the cholesterol content, fatty acid profile, and atherogenic (IA) and thrombogenic (IT) health lipid parameters of four dry fermented sausages produced from Mangalitsa and Swedish Landrace pork meat. The highest cholesterol level was found in Sremska sausage prepared from Landrace meat (64.92 mg/100g). Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels were considerably greater in Landrace meat sausages than in other kinds. The main cause of these variations was a higher overall n-6 PUFA concentration. The sausages made from Mangalitsa meat had the highest levels of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and unsaturated fatty acid (USFA). The highest saturated fatty acid (SFA) level was found in sausages prepared from Landrace meat. Fermented sausages made from Mangalitsa pork meat show better health lipid indices, atherogenic (IA), thrombogenic (IT), and PUFA/SFA ratios.

Production of dry fermented fish sausages by using different fish species and determination of the microbiological qualities

In this study frozen-thawed rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) and seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillets were used for preparing of dry fermented fish sausages. The total mesophilic aerob bacteria (TMAB), total psychrophilic aerob bacteria (TPAB), yeast–mould (YM), lactic acid bacteria (LB), Enterobactericeae (EB), Staphylococcus aureus (SA) changes of these dry fermented sausages were examined in the refrigerated storage at 6-8˚C. At the end of the storage period of 90 days, the results of the TMAB, TPAB, YM, LB, EB and SA counts of dry fermented seabass sausages were determined as 6.25, 7.01, 3.61, 5.31, <1.0 ve <1.0 log cfu/g, while, TMAB, TPAB, YM, LB, EB and SA counts of dry fermented trout sausages were found as 6.57, 7.20, 4.44, 5.14, <1.0 ve <1.0 log cfu/g, respectively. In this study both fermented fish sausages were determined as too much dried and exceeded the microbiological limit of TMAB at the end of the storage period of 90 days in the refrigerator. However, fermented seabass sausage reached the maximum level of YM count on the 10th day of storage, whereas fermented trout sausage reached this level on the 30th day of storage. Therefore, it is suggested that they should be packaged in vacuum packaging because of preventing too much drying and the growth of undesirable moulds. Additionally, the identification of microorganisms in fermented fish sausages would also be advised to determine desirable and undesirable microorganisms. Dry fermented fish sausage would be an alternative product to traditional dry fermented meat sausage in Turkey because of the health benefits of fish.