Reducing phosphate in low sodium and low‐cost meat emulsions: A healthier approach

Characteristics of hairtail surimi gels treated with myofibrillar protein-stabilized Pickering emulsions

BACKGROUND

Hairtail (Trichiurus haumela) surimi exhibits poor gelation properties and a dark gray appearance, which hinder its utilization in high-quality surimi gel products. The effect of Pickering emulsions stabilized by myofibrillar proteins (MPE) on the gel properties of hairtail surimi has been unclear. In particular, the impact of MPE under NaCl and KCl treatments on the quality of hairtail surimi gels requires further elucidation.

RESULTS

Pickering emulsions stabilized by myofibrillar proteins and treated with NaCl or KCl (Na-MPE, K-MPE) were added to hairtail surimi in amounts of 10-70 g kg-1. The addition of 50 g kg-1 Na-MPE and K-MPE improved the gel strength, textural properties, whiteness, and water-holding capacity (WHC) of hairtail surimi. The relative content of β-turn and β-sheet in the surimi gels increased and the relative content of random coils and α-helix decreased with the addition of oil. The addition of Na-MPE and K-MPE did not affect the secondary structure of surimi gels but stimulated the gelation of hairtail surimi gels. Hairtail surimi containing K-MPE demonstrated similar performance in terms of hardness, microstructure, and WHC compared with the addition of Na-MPE.

CONCLUSION

The quality of hairtail surimi gels can be improved by the addition of Na-MPE or K-MPE. The K-MPE proved to be an effective option for enhancing the properties of hairtail surimi gels at 50 g kg-1 to replace Na-MPE. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phosphate alternatives for meat processing and challenges for the industry: A critical review

Meat and meat products provide high levels of nutrition and many health benefits to consumers, yet a controversy exists regarding the use of non-meat additives, such as the inorganic phosphates that are commonly used in meat processing, and particularly their relationship to cardiovascular health and kidney complications. Inorganic phosphates are salts of phosphoric acid (e.g., sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, or calcium phosphate), whereas organic phosphates are ester compounds (e.g., the phospholipids found in cell membranes). In this sense, the meat industry remains active in its efforts to improve formulations for processed meat products with the use of natural ingredients. Despite efforts to improve formulations, many processed meat products still contain inorganic phosphates, which are used for their technological contributions to meat chemistry including improvements in water-holding capacity and protein solubilization. This review provides a thorough evaluation of phosphate substitutes in meat formulations and other processing technologies that can help eliminate phosphates from the formulations of processed meat products. In general, several ingredients have been evaluated as replacements for inorganic phosphates with varying degrees of success such as plant-based ingredients (e.g., starches, fibers, or seeds), fungi ingredients (e.g., mushrooms and mushroom extracts), algae ingredients, animal-based ingredients (e.g., meat/seafood, dairy, or egg materials), and inorganic compounds (i.e., minerals). Although these ingredients have shown some favorable effects in certain meat products, none have exactly matched the many functions of inorganic phosphates, so the support of extrinsic technologies, such as tumbling, ultrasound, high-pressure processing (HPP), and pulsed electric field (PEF), may be necessary to achieve similar physiochemical properties as conventional products. The meat industry should continue to investigate ways to scientifically innovate the formulations of, and the technologies used in, processed meat products while also listening to (and acting upon) the feedback from consumers.

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.