Effect of high pressure processing, allyl isothiocyanate, and acetic acid stresses on Salmonella survivals, storage, and appearance color in raw ground chicken meat

Health Benefits, Applications, and Analytical Methods of Freshly Produced Allyl Isothiocyanate

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a low-molecular-weight natural chemical predominantly obtained from the autolysis of sinigrin, a glucosinolate found in cruciferous vegetables like mustard, horseradish, and wasabi. AITC has sparked widespread interest due to its various biological actions, which include strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer capabilities. This compound offers promising potential in several fields, particularly in food preservation, medicine, and enhancing food quality through natural means. AITC's effectiveness against a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including foodborne pathogens and spoilage agents, makes it an attractive natural alternative to synthetic preservatives. The potential to extend the shelf life of perishable foods makes AITC an important tool for food production, meeting rising customer demand for natural additives. In addition to its antimicrobial effects, AITC demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory activity, reducing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulating key signaling pathways, which could make it valuable in managing chronic inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, emerging research highlights its potential in cancer prevention and treatment, as AITC has been demonstrated to induce apoptosis and inhibit cell increase in several cancer cell lines, offering a natural approach to chemoprevention. This review delves into the chemical structure, metabolism, and bioavailability of freshly produced AITC, providing a comprehensive overview of its beneficial properties. Challenges related to AITC's volatility, dosage optimization, and regulatory considerations are also discussed, alongside future research directions to enhance the stability and efficacy of AITC-based formulations. The findings underscore AITC's role as a versatile bioactive compound with known potential to support human health and the sustainable food industry.

Effect of Single and Two-Cycles of High Hydrostatic Pressure Treatment on the Safety and Quality of Chicken Burgers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two cycles of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment on chicken burgers after storage at refrigeration (4 °C) for 15 days, in comparison with the application of a single cycle of high hydrostatic pressure treatment, as well as compared with non-treated burgers. Samples were treated at 400 and 600 MPa and a single or two cycles were applied. The results showed that mesophilic, psychrotrophic molds, yeast, and coliforms were significantly reduced by HHP treatment (p < 0.05), 600 MPa/1 s (2 cycles) leading to the maximum inactivation. Concerning color parameters, a significant increase in lightness/paleness (L*) and a reduction in redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) (p < 0.05) was observed in samples as 600 MPa were applied. Moreover, 600 MPa/1 s (2 cycles) caused the highest differences in the meat color (ΔE processing) of the chicken burgers. No HHP treatment significantly affected the degree of oxidation of samples (p > 0.05). However, 600 MPa/1 s (2 cycles) samples showed the highest values of TBA RS content after 15 days of storage (p < 0.05). Finally, the appearance, odor, taste, and global perception of cooked burgers were similar in all groups (p < 0.05). Therefore, treatments at 600 MPa produced a significant reduction in microbial counts but modified the color; however, the discoloration effect in the cooked burgers was not noticed by panelists.

Development and Evaluation of the Properties of Active Films for High-Fat Fruit and Vegetable Packaging

β-cyclodextrin and allyl isothiocyanate inclusion complexes (β-CD:AITC) have been proposed for developing fresh fruit and vegetable packaging materials. Therefore, the aim of this research was to develop active materials based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) loaded with β-CD:AITC and to assess changes in the material properties during the release of AITC to food simulants. PLA films with 0, 5 and 10 wt.% β-CD:AITC were developed by extrusion. Surface properties were determined from contact angle measurements. Films were immersed in water, aqueous and fatty simulants to assess the absorption capacity and the change in the thermal properties. Moreover, the release of AITC in both simulants was evaluated by UV-spectroscopy and kinetic parameters were determined by data modeling. Results showed that a higher concentration of β-CD:AITC increased the absorption of aqueous simulant of films, favoring the plasticization of PLA. However, the incorporation of β-CD:AITC also avoided the swelling of PLA in fatty simulant. These effects and complex relationships between the polymer, inclusion complexes and food simulant explained the non-systematic behavior in the diffusion coefficient. However, the lower partition coefficient and higher percentage of released AITC to the fatty simulant suggested the potential of these materials for high-fat fruit and vegetable active packaging applications.

Application of Plant Proteases in Meat Tenderization: Recent Trends and Future Prospects

Papain, bromelain, and ficin are commonly used plant proteases used for meat tenderization. Other plant proteases explored for meat tenderization are actinidin, zingibain, and cucumin. The application of plant crude extracts or powders containing higher levels of compounds exerting tenderizing effects is also gaining popularity due to lower cost, improved sensory attributes of meat, and the presence of bioactive compounds exerting additional benefits in addition to tenderization, such as antioxidants and antimicrobial effects. The uncontrolled plant protease action could cause excessive tenderization (mushy texture) and poor quality due to an indiscriminate breakdown of proteins. The higher cost of separation and the purification of enzymes, unstable structure, and poor stability of these enzymes due to autolysis are some major challenges faced by the food industry. The meat industry is targeting the recycling of enzymes and improving their stability and shelf-life by immobilization, encapsulation, protein engineering, medium engineering, and stabilization during tenderization. The present review critically analyzed recent trends and the prospects of the application of plant proteases in meat tenderization.

Effect of citric acid/ pomelo essential oil nanoemulsion combined with high hydrostatic pressure on the quality of banana puree

In this work, the influence of citric acid & pomelo essential oil nanoemulsion (CA&PEN) assisted with HHP on microbial counts, oxidative enzyme activity and related quality of banana puree were examined. The total aerobic bacteria (TAB) counts of all groups decreased to 1.2 ∼ 2.52 lg CFU/g from 3.97 lg CFU/g, except the CA&PEN group, which was still below the detection level. CA&PEN combined with HHP (500 or 600 MPa, 5 min) succeeded in keeping TAB counts of banana puree below the detection limit for 3 months of cold storage. During 90 days of cold storage, the color, total phenolics, DPPH and ABTS antioxidant capacities were better conserved in acidified groups than non-acidified groups. In conclusion, CA&PEN assisted with HHP can be utilized to promote the inhibition of enzymatic browning and maintain the quality of banana puree, due to its reduced oxidative enzyme activity, low pH, strong antioxidant capacity and excellent color retention.

Transformation of Seafood Side-Streams and Residuals into Valuable Products

Seafood processing creates enormous amounts of side-streams. This review deals with the use of seafood side-streams for transformation into valuable products and identifies suitable approaches for making use of it for different purposes. Starting at the stage of catching fish to its selling point, many of the fish parts, such as head, skin, tail, fillet cut-offs, and the viscera, are wasted. These parts are rich in proteins, enzymes, healthy fatty acids such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated ones, gelatin, and collagen. The valuable biochemical composition makes it worth discussing paths through which seafood side-streams can be turned into valuable products. Drawbacks, as well as challenges of different aquacultures, demonstrate the importance of using the various side-streams to produce valuable compounds to improve economic performance efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture. In this review, conventional and novel utilization approaches, as well as a combination of both, have been identified, which will lead to the development of sustainable production chains and the emergence of new bio-based products in the future.

Additive Effects of L-Arginine with Potassium Carbonate on the Quality Profile Promotion of Phosphate-Free Frankfurters

The present study investigated the additive effects of L-Arginine (L-Arg) with potassium carbonate (PC) on the quality characteristics of phosphate-free frankfurters. The results showed that L-Arg combined with PC could act as a viable phosphate replacer by decreasing cooking loss and improving the textural properties of phosphate-free frankfurters (p < 0.05), mainly because of its pH-raising ability. Moreover, L-Arg could assist PC in effectively retarding lipid oxidation in phosphate-free frankfurters during storage (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 0.1% L-Arg combined with 0.15% PC was found to exhibit the best optimal phosphate-replacing effect. This combination could also overcome quality defects and promote the sensory attributes of phosphate-free frankfurters to the maximum extent. Therefore, our results suggest that L-Arg combined with PC can be considered a feasible alternative for the processing of phosphate-free frankfurters with an improved quality profile and superior health benefits.

Production of Marinated Chinese Lotus Root Slices Using High-Pressure Processing as an Alternative to Traditional Thermal-and-Soaking Procedure

Marinated vegetables are traditional cold dishes with a long history and special flavor in the Chinese deli market. However, the traditional thermal-and-soaking (TS) procedure often results in unreproducible flavor quality properties of marinated vegetables and waste of brine and time in production. A novel green and sustainable technique, high-pressure processing (HPP), has caught the attention of the food industry. In this study, the effects of HPP and TS treatment on the visual, flavor, textural, and microbiological qualities of Chinese marinated lotus root slices were investigated. Compared to the TS products, lighter color, more varieties of volatile compounds, and crunchier texture were detected in the HPP products. Throughout the 4 °C, 25 °C, and 45 °C shelf life challenges, the HPP products retained their original color and crunchiness better than the TS ones, whereas no significant differences were found in total viable counts (TVCs) in the first half of the shelf lives. The Arrhenius model under the first-order reaction of TVC deterioration showed a good fit to the shelf life of the HPP marinated lotus root slices. This study demonstrates that HPP may assist in making the best use of brine in a more time-efficient manner to improve the visual, flavor, and textural quality of traditional Chinese marinated lotus root slices.

Synergistic effect of high hydrostatic pressure, allyl isothiocyanate, and acetic acid on the inactivation and survival of pathogenic Escherichia coli in ground chicken

Meat and poultry are prone to contamination with foodborne pathogens sourced from the livestock or introduced from the processing environments. In this study, for retention of meat quality while assuring microbial food safety, mild levels of high hydrostatic pressure were hurdled with food-grade additives (i.e., allyl isothiocyanate [AITC] and acetic acid [AA], functioned as antimicrobials) to inactivate pathogenic Escherichia coli in ground chicken. The reductions of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157:H7 and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) were described as a function of high hydrostatic pressure (200-350 MPa), process-holding time (10-25 min), AITC concentration (0.05-0.20% w/w), and AA concentration (0.10--0.30% w/w) using a full factorial design. The antimicrobials had little influence on bacterial inactivation without high pressure. Without the antimicrobials, a high-pressure treatment at 300 MPa and 4°C for 15 min reduced E. coli O157:H7 and UPEC by 1.52 and 2.52 log, respectively. A 5-log reduction was achieved when AITC and AA were combined with high pressure, indicating a synergistic effect. The survivors were further reduced to below the detection limit of 1 log CFU/g after subsequent storage tests at 4 and 10°C for 10 days. The STEC O157:H7 was found slightly more resistant than UPEC in our test matrix. The developed models showed good fits with experimental data (R²  > 0.95 for linear models; Pr > F (<0.0001) for dimensionless nonlinear models); which may help processors find/optimize the processing parameters to achieve target foodborne pathogens reduction for food safety requirement. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Models were developed to predict the inactivation of pathogenic Escherichia coli in ground chicken by high-pressure processing (HPP) in combination with natural antimicrobial compounds. These models can be used to estimate/determine the HPP operation parameters and antimicrobial usage levels (i.e., allyl isothiocyanate and acetic acid) needed to achieve a specific microbial log reduction within the selected factor ranges. The operation parameters and clean-label ingredients are of interest in the food industry, which may benefit from the application of the models in achieving microbial safety, process optimization, and operation cost reduction.

High-performance triplex PCR detection of three tapeworm species belonging to the genus Raillietina in infected poultry

Chickens and ducks are important sources of essential proteins and nutrition for global consumption, especially their eggs and meat. Tapeworm infections in chickens and ducks are the cause of serious poultry health and economic problems in the processing of livestock and food production systems. Raillietina are cosmopolitan in distribution and are possibly the most common tapeworm parasites. There are three important species regarding avian infection, with different pathogenicity, including Raillietina echinobothrida, R. tetragona, and R. cesticillus. Co-infection diagnosis of these tapeworms using morphological analysis can be performed, but this is time-consuming and complicated. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a triplex PCR for the detection and discrimination of three Raillietina species. The triplex PCR assay specifically amplified target DNAs with no inter-specific interference and produced a specific band for each species. According to the specificity test, there was no cross-amplification with the DNA template of related parasites and their hosts. The lowest detectable DNA concentrations were evaluated and provided sensitivities of 0.5 pg/μL for R. echinobothrida, 5 pg/μL for R. tetragona, 50 fg/μL for R. cesticillus, and 5 pg/μL for the combination of DNA from all three species. Simultaneous detection limits of egg capsules and gravid proglottids was also performed, with and without feces. The interference of feces in the reaction was related to a decrease in sensitivity, but simultaneous detection of three Raillietina species in amounts lower than one gravid proglottid and ten egg capsules was still successful. Thus, this study is the first triplex PCR assay for Raillietina detection and can be utilized as an alternative diagnostic tool for the detection and discrimination of R. echinobothrida, R. tetragona, and R. cesticillus infection in poultry through the verification of fecal specimens. In addition, it could improve the performance of specific treatments and promote veterinary healthcare.

Effect of Lentinan on Lipid Oxidation and Quality Change in Goose Meatballs during Cold Storage

The effects of different concentrations of lentinan (LNT) (0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4%) on the oxidation characteristics and physicochemical properties of goose meatballs were investigated during different cold storage (4 °C) stages (3, 7 and 12 days). After adding LNT, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) of goose meatballs significantly decreased compared to the LNT-free sample during cold storage, which indicated that LNT can inhibit the fat oxidation and the release of nitrogenous substances. Meanwhile, the presence of LNT makes microstructure of the goose meatball samples become denser during the whole storage time. The headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MC) results showed that the proportion of aldehydes in the 4% LNT group reached 0 during storage, suggesting that high LNT concentration inhibits the formation of oxidized products in meat products. The sensory evaluation showed that the addition of LNT improved the color, appearance, flavor, and overall acceptance of goose meatballs, and the 2% LNT group had the highest score in overall acceptance. In summary, the addition of LNT could delay lipid oxidation and improve the quality of goose meatballs during cold storage.

High-Pressure Processing for Sustainable Food Supply

Sustainable food supply has gained considerable consumer concern due to the high percentage of spoilage microorganisms. Food industries need to expand advanced technologies that can maintain the nutritive content of foods, enhance the bio-availability of bioactive compounds, provide environmental and economic sustainability, and fulfill consumers’ requirements of sensory characteristics. Heat treatment negatively affects food samples’ nutritional and sensory properties as bioactives are sensitive to high-temperature processing. The need arises for non-thermal processes to reduce food losses, and sustainable developments in preservation, nutritional security, and food safety are crucial parameters for the upcoming era. Non-thermal processes have been successfully approved because they increase food quality, reduce water utilization, decrease emissions, improve energy efficiency, assure clean labeling, and utilize by-products from waste food. These processes include pulsed electric field (PEF), sonication, high-pressure processing (HPP), cold plasma, and pulsed light. This review describes the use of HPP in various processes for sustainable food processing. The influence of this technique on microbial, physicochemical, and nutritional properties of foods for sustainable food supply is discussed. This approach also emphasizes the limitations of this emerging technique. HPP has been successfully analyzed to meet the global requirements. A limited global food source must have a balanced approach to the raw content, water, energy, and nutrient content. HPP showed positive results in reducing microbial spoilage and, at the same time, retains the nutritional value. HPP technology meets the essential requirements for sustainable and clean labeled food production. It requires limited resources to produce nutritionally suitable foods for consumers’ health.

A systematic review of clean-label alternatives to synthetic additives in raw and processed meat with a special emphasis on high-pressure processing (2018-2021)

The meat industry is continuously facing challenges with food safety, and quality losses caused by thermal processing. This systematic review reports recent clean label approaches in high-pressure production of meat. A literature search was performed using Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Springer databases for studies published in 2018-2021. In this regard, 69 articles were assessed out of 386 explored research articles in the identified stage. The findings indicate that most of the earlier work on high-pressure processing (HPP) focused on physicochemical and sensorial meat quality rather than providing nutritional aspects and clean-label solutions. However, few advanced studies report effective and innovative solutions to develop low salt/fat, and reduced nitrite for raw and cured meat products. HPP could help on increasing the shell life by five times in meat products; however, it depends on the formulation and packaging, etc. HPP can also preserve nutrients by using this non-thermal technology and reduce food waste as once the shelf life of products is known, it easily reduces the shrinkage in the marketplace. This review explores the latest trend of experimental research in high-pressure processing alone, or multi-hurdle techniques employed to increase the effect of clean-label ingredients for enhanced meat safety/quality.

Combined Effect of High-Pressure Processing with Spice Extracts on Quality of Low-Salt Sausage during Refrigerated Storage

The study evaluated the combined effect of high-pressure processing (HPP) and spice extracts on low-salt sausages during refrigerated storage. Physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of the sausages were determined. HPP treatment increased the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value and the carbonyl content of the samples (p < 0.05), which meant lipid and protein oxidation was accelerated. Adding clove and cinnamon extracts can retard the oxidation caused by HPP (p < 0.05). The pH of the sausages treated with both the spice extracts and HPP maintained a higher pH value during the storage (p > 0.05). Compared with the samples treated with HPP or with the spice extracts alone, the combined treatment observably inhibited the growth of spoilage bacteria (p < 0.05) and improved the microbial community. The results demonstrated that the use of clove and cinnamon extracts in conjunction with HPP improved the storage quality and prolonged the shelf-life of the low-salt sausages. Thus, the combined use of spice extracts and HPP can be developed as a promising way to preserve low-salt meat products.

Revisiting Non-Thermal Food Processing and Preservation Methods-Action Mechanisms, Pros and Cons: A Technological Update (2016-2021)

The push for non-thermal food processing methods has emerged due to the challenges associated with thermal food processing methods, for instance, high operational costs and alteration of food nutrient components. Non-thermal food processing involves methods where the food materials receive microbiological inactivation without or with little direct application of heat. Besides being well established in scientific literature, research into non-thermal food processing technologies are constantly on the rise as applied to a wide range of food products. Due to such remarkable progress by scientists and researchers, there is need for continuous synthesis of relevant scientific literature for the benefit of all actors in the agro-food value chain, most importantly the food processors, and to supplement existing information. This review, therefore, aimed to provide a technological update on some selected non-thermal food processing methods specifically focused on their operational mechanisms, their effectiveness in preserving various kinds of foods, as revealed by their pros (merits) and cons (demerits). Specifically, pulsed electric field, pulsed light, ultraviolet radiation, high-pressure processing, non-thermal (cold) plasma, ozone treatment, ionizing radiation, and ultrasound were considered. What defines these techniques, their ability to exhibit limited changes in the sensory attributes of food, retain the food nutrient contents, ensure food safety, extend shelf-life, and being eco-friendly were highlighted. Rationalizing the process mechanisms about these specific non-thermal technologies alongside consumer education can help raise awareness prior to any design considerations, improvement of cost-effectiveness, and scaling-up their capacity for industrial-level applications.

Quality characteristics of shucked crab meat (Eriocheir sinensis) processed by high pressure during superchilled storage

High-pressure processing (HPP) at 300 MPa for 20 min at 25°C was used for shucking Chinese mitten crab. The shelf-life, quality as well as internal protein changes in HPP-shucked meat were investigated during superchilled storage at -4^o C. Upon 3-week storage, the lightness and whiteness of HPP-shucked crab meat start to decline, while no significant changes were observed in the hardness, gumminess, and chewiness. Sensory and microbial evaluation suggested that HPP-shucked crab meat can be generally preserved in an acceptable manner within 3 weeks, although a negative influence on drip loss was found. The loss of entrapped water in crab meat as revealed by low field nuclear magnetic resonance was responsible for the relatively high thawing drip loss. The severe deterioration of meat quality and sensory occurred at 4-week storage probably as a result of exacerbated myofibrillar protein oxidation, denaturation, and crosslinking. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: It has been confirmed that HPP shucking can maintain the fresh-state of the crab meat and save energy compared to the conventional treatment, which could meet consumers' demand for minimally processed seafood products. In this work, the shelf-life of HPP-shucked crab meat stored at -4^o C was evaluated to be 3 weeks and HPP shucking combined with superchilling can be an effective way to preserve the crab meat. These results can provide basic knowledge for the storage and distribution of HPP-shucked crab meat.