Effect of nitrate and nitrite curing salts on microbial changes and sensory quality of rapid ripened sausages

Effect of Salt (Sodium Chloride) Replacement With Potassium Chloride, High Pressure Processing, and Cold Storage at 4°C on Beef Sausage Volatile Compounds

This study aimed to investigate the partial substitution of 0, 25 and 50% sodium chloride (NaCl) by potassium chloride (KCl) coupled with high-pressure processing (HPP) effects on volatile compounds and lipid oxidation of beef sausage at five (0, 3, 7, 14, and 21) different cold storage days (4°C). The odor activity values (OAV) of the various compounds were visualized by heat map analysis. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of the samples treated with 100% NaCl and HPP increased by an average of 0.52 ± 0.01 mg MDA/kg compared with the control (100% NaCl-no HPP) across the 21 storage days. In addition, 50% NaCl substitution with KCl in combinations with HPP treatments increased TBARS across the 21 storage days by an average of 0.40 ± 0.02 mg MDA/kg compared with no HPP treatment. However, on day 3, there was a sharp decrease in TBARS by an average of 0.10 ± 0.01 mg MDA/kg compared with days 0, 7, 14, and 21 in all treatments. At the end of 21 days of storage, a total of 227 volatile compounds were identified and quantified in the beef sausage, including 43 aldehydes, 46 phenols, 8 ketones, 30 alcohols, 14 acids, 12 esters, 27 terpenes, and 47 alkanes. However, no ketone compounds were detected on days 7, 14 and 21; esters on day 14 and acids on days 14 and 21 in the samples treated with or without HPP across the salts levels. However, high OAVs (OAV > 1) were obtained after partial substitution of NaCl with KCl at 25 and 50% with HPP treatment compared to the samples not treated with HPP. The aroma perceived in the beef sausage was due to compounds with the highest OAVs such as; pentadecanal, benzyl carbazate, anethole, myristicin, o-cresol, phenylacetaldehyde and (E)-methyl isoeugenol, pentadecanal, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, eugenol, trans-2-nonenal, trans-2-octenal, trans-2-decenal, 2-butyl-1-octanol, 2,3-butanedione, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, (-)-4-terpineol which had an OAV > 1 as compared to the other compounds with an OAV < 1. In conclusion, 25 and 50% NaCl partial replacement with KCl coupled with HPP technique can be considered in producing low-NaCl beef sausage in order to improve the flavor and decrease lipid oxidation during cold storage.

Nitrite reduction in fermented meat products and its impact on aroma

Fermented meat products are important not only for their sensory characteristics, nutrient content and cultural heritage, but also for their stability and convenience. The aroma of fermented meat products is unique and its formation mechanisms are not completely understood; however, the presence of nitrite and nitrate is essential for the development of cured aroma. The use of nitrite and nitrate as curing agents in meat products is based on its preservation activity. Even though their presence has been associated with several risks due to the formation of nitrosamines, their use is guarantee due to their antimicrobial action against Clostridium botulinum. Recent trends and recommendations by international associations are directed to use nitrite but at the minimum concentration necessary to provide the antimicrobial activity against Clostridium botulinum. This chapter discuss the actual limits of nitrite and nitrite content and their role as curing agents in meat products with special impact on dry fermented products. Regulatory considerations, antimicrobial mechanisms and actual trends regarding nitrite reduction and its effect on sensory and aroma properties are also considered.

The investigation of the use of beetroot powder in Turkish fermented beef sausage (sucuk) as nitrite alternative

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of reformulation of Turkish dry fermented beef sausage (sucuk) by replacing nitrite with beetroot powder (BP), which has high nitrate content, on some quality characteristics of the product during storage at 4 °C for 84 days. Four different sausage formulations were produced containing C:150 mg/kg sodium nitrite; BS1:100 mg/kg sodium nitrite and 0.12% BP; BS2:50 mg/kg sodium nitrite and 0.24% BP and BS3: 0.35% BP. The inclusion of BP increased a* value of samples and resulted in the protection of the desired red color during storage. There was no significant difference between the residual nitrite contents of the samples at the end of the storage period. The lactic acid bacteria count was highest in BS3. Suggested storage periods for BS2 and BS3 samples were 56 days by taking into consideration the TBARS value. Sensory evaluation scores of samples with BP were comparable to those of C during storage.

Nitrite formation from vegetable sources and its use as a preservative in cooked sausage

BACKGROUND

Due to the potential health risk associated with nitrites, nitrite alternatives from natural sources in meat products have been investigated. We compared the nitrate contents of young radish, lettuce and commercial vegetable powder (cabbage and Chinese cabbage). We also investigated the effect of incubation time and salt addition on vegetable nitrite formation from vegetable sources. The antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of vegetable nitrite in cooked sausage were also compared with sodium nitrite.

RESULTS

Young radish produced the greatest amount of nitrite after 24 h of incubation at 38 °C. On average, an approximately 32% reduction of nitrite was observed in sausage during 4 weeks of storage. Lipid oxidation in sausage was significantly prevented by vegetable nitrite produced from vegetable powder or young radish. The colour of the sausage prepared with young radish was most similar to that of the sausage with sodium nitrite. The addition of young radish to sausage significantly prevented the growth of Listeria monocytogenes at 4 °C and Staphylococcus aureus at 8 °C.

CONCLUSION

Young radish was more effective as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agent as compared to commercial vegetable powder, which is currently used to make natural meat products, indicating that young radish has a high potential as a natural preservative. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Generation of flavour compounds in fermented sausages-the influence of curing ingredients, Staphylococcus starter culture and ripening time

The volatile profiles of fermented sausages made with either Staphylococcus xylosus or Staphylococcus carnosus starter cultures were studied with regard to the influence of salt concentration, ripening time and three different combinations of curing ingredients-nitrate, nitrite or nitrite/ascorbate. Emphasis was laid on volatile compounds originating from degradation of branched-chain amino acids. Volatile compounds were collected using dynamic headspace sampling and were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Development in water activity, water loss and pH was monitored throughout maturation. Curing salts had a pronounced effect on the level of volatile compounds. In particular, curing with nitrate instead of nitrite resulted in a striking difference. Generally, nitrate increased the level of volatile compounds compared to nitrite, whereas ascorbate had only a small influence. The concentration level of NaCl had a considerable effect on the amount of volatile compounds but the effect was highly related to the ripening stage. Most compounds, but not all, increased in concentration as ripening proceeded. Major differences in the development of volatile compounds were observed depending on whether S. xylosus or S. carnosus were used as starter culture. In particular the effects of nitrate was much more predominant in the sausages made with S. carnosus than S.xylosus.

The effect of nitrite and starter culture on microbiological quality of "chorizo"-a Spanish dry cured sausage

The effect of nitrite and starter culture on the survival of Enterobacteriaceae, Micrococcaceae, Lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms was evaluated during ripening of "chorizo", a Spanish dry sausage. Sodium nitrite 50 and 150 ppm and Lactobacillus sake CL35 added to the "chorizo" have a significant inhibitory effect on Enterobacteriaceae counts but did not on Micrococcaceae. The use of Lact. sake could be an adequate safety factor in this product.

The effects of ripening period, nitrite level and heat treatment on biogenic amine formation of "sucuk" - A Turkish dry fermented sausage

The effects of ripening period (1-13days), nitrite level (45-195ppm) and heat treatment (30-90°C) on biogenic amine formation of sucuk were investigated using the central composite rotatable design of response surface methodology. Increasing the ripening period of sucuk caused significant increases in putrescine, cadaverine, tyramine, histamine, spermidine and spermine levels (P<0.01). During the ripening period, the biogenic amines putrescine and tyramine increased the most. Increased nitrite levels caused decreases in cadaverine and tyramine. However, the effect of heat treatment on the biogenic amines was not significant (P>0.05).

Effects of varying levels of vegetable juice powder and incubation time on color, residual nitrate and nitrite, pigment, pH, and trained sensory attributes of ready-to-eat uncured ham

Vegetable juice powder (VJP) and a starter culture containing Staphylococcus carnosus have been identified as necessary ingredients for the manufacture of uncured, no-nitrate/nitrite-added meat products with quality and sensory attributes similar to traditional cured products. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of varying concentrations of VJP and incubation time (MIN-HOLD) on quality characteristics, including lipid oxidation, color, and cured meat pigment concentrations, of ham over a 90-d storage period, compare residual nitrate and nitrite content, and determine if differences exist in sensory properties of finished products. Four ham treatments (TRT) (TRT 1: 0.20% VJP, 0 MIN-HOLD; TRT 2: 0.20% VJP, 120 MIN-HOLD; TRT 3: 0.35% VJP, 0 MIN-HOLD; TRT 4: 0.35% VJP, 120 MIN-HOLD) and a sodium nitrite-added control (C) were used for this study. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed between TRTs and C for CIE L*, a*, b*, and cured color measured by reflectance ratio. Lipid oxidation (TBARS) for combined TRTs and C revealed little change over time while the C had less (P < 0.05) lipid oxidation than TRTs 2 and 4 for combined days. No differences (P > 0.05) were reported for cured pigment concentration between TRTs and C. Trained sensory panel intensity ratings for ham and vegetable aroma, and flavor, color, and firmness showed that a high concentration (0.35%) of VJP resulted in the highest scores for undesirable vegetable aroma and flavor. Treatment combinations with a low concentration (0.20%) of VJP were comparable to the C for all sensory attributes.

Effect of nitrate and nitrite curing salts on microbial changes and sensory quality of non-fermented sausages

The effects of nitrate and nitrite curing salts on microbial changes and sensory quality of non-fermented sausages of small diameter were investigated. During pre-ripening (day 5), levels of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts were slightly higher in nitrite-made sausages than in those made with nitrate. In contrast, nitrite discouraged the growth of psychrotrophs as occurs in fermented sausages. By the end of ripening (day 26), levels of microorganisms were similar in both batches of sausages except for psychrotrophs being higher in those made with nitrite. Nitrate-made sausages showed higher aroma and taste intensity.