Fat and salt contents affect the in-mouth temporal sodium release and saltiness perception of chicken sausages

Techniques of incorporation of salty compounds, food matrix, and sodium behaviour and its effect over saltiness perception: an overview

The salty taste is usually associated with the positively charged ion sodium present in sodium chloride. Due to its relevance in the food industry, there have been several studies to determine how this ion behaves in various food matrices, or the use of techniques to improve saltiness perception to reduce the amount necessary for savoury food. Several databases were searched, and it was discovered that sodium can interact with the protein, modifying its mobility, as well as, other components of the food matrix, such as fat, that seem to interfere with saltiness perception, increasing or reducing it. Several techniques were used to identify the interaction between sodium and the food matrix, as well as sensory testing to determine the influence of different modification strategies to enhance the saltiness perception. Due to the multiple factors involved in the salty taste, understanding the effect of the technique to modify saltiness perception, the interaction of the matrix components of the food, and the sodium interaction with those components, can be of use in the developing process of foods with a reduction in the sodium content.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05861-6.

Enhancing the palatability of cultivated meat

Cultivated meat (CM) has transitioned from a futuristic concept to a present reality, with select products approved for consumption and sale in Singapore, Israel, and the USA. This evolution has emphasized scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable production, as well as navigation of regulatory pathways. As CM develops, a crucial challenge lies in delivering products that are highly appealing to consumers. Central to this will be refining CM palatability, a term encompassing food's taste, aroma, texture, tenderness, juiciness, and color. We explore the scientific and engineering approaches to producing palatable CM, including cell-line selection, cell differentiation, and post-processing techniques. This includes a discussion of the structural and compositional properties of meat that are intrinsically coupled to palatability.

A review of the world's salt reduction policies and strategies - preparing for the upcoming year 2025

Excessive consumption of dietary sodium is a significant contributor to non-communicable diseases, including hypertension and cardiovascular disease. There is now a global consensus that regulating salt intake is among the most cost-effective measures for enhancing public health. More than half of the countries worldwide have implemented multiple strategies to decrease salt consumption. Nevertheless, a report on sodium intake reduction published by the World Health Organization revealed that the world is off-track to meet its targeted reduction of 30% by 2025. The global situation regarding salt reduction remains concerning. This review will center on domestic and international salt reduction policies, as well as diverse strategies, given the detrimental effects of excessive dietary salt intake and the existing global salt intake scenario. Besides, we used visualization software to analyze the literature related to salt reduction research in the last five years to explore the research hotspots in this field. Our objective is to enhance public awareness regarding the imperative of reducing salt intake and promoting the active implementation of diverse salt reduction policies.

Comprehensive Effects of Potassium Lactate, Calcium Ascorbate and Magnesium Chloride as Alternative Salts on Physicochemical Properties, Sensory Characteristics and Volatile Compounds in Low-Sodium Marinated Beef

The search for alternative salt formulations similar to sodium chloride and their effect on marinated meat products is of great significance to the low-sodium meat processing industry. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of partially replacing sodium chloride with potassium lactate, calcium ascorbate, and magnesium chloride on the sodium content, water activity and distribution, protein solubility, microstructure, sensory characteristics and volatile flavor compounds in low-sodium marinated beef. The sodium content in the test group decreased up to 28% compared to 100% in the sodium chloride group C1. The formulation including 60% sodium chloride and a total of 40% compound alternative salts in groups F1 and F2 increased their myofibril fragmentation index and promoted the disruption of the myogenic fiber structure. Group F1 (the ratio of potassium lactate, calcium ascorbate and magnesium chloride was 2:1:1) performed higher solubility of myofibrillar proteins and lower transverse relaxation value than group F2 detected by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance, which indicated that F1 formulation was beneficial to promote the solubility of myofibrillar proteins and attenuate the water mobility of marinated beef. Moreover, group F1 had a more similar microstructure and more similar overall sensory attributes to group C1 according to the scanning electron microscopy. The sensory evaluation showed higher peak intensity and response values of volatile flavor compounds than group C1 and C2 (only 60% sodium chloride) when detected using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry technology, which indicated that the compound alternative salts of group F1 can improve the lower quality of low-sodium marinated beef and perform similar attributes to the C1 sample regarding moisture distribution and microstructure and even performs better than it with regards to flavor. Therefore, the F1 formula possessed greater potential for application in low-sodium marinated meat products.

Saltiness perception in gel-based food systems (gels and emulsion-filled gels)

Reducing salt in food without compromising its quality is a huge challenge. Some review articles have been recently published on saltiness perception in some colloidal systems such as emulsions. However, no published reviews are available on saltiness perceptions of gel-based matrices, even though salt release and perception in these systems have been extensively studied. This article reviews the recent advances in salt perception in gel-based systems and provides a detailed analysis of the main factors affecting salt release. Strategies to enhance saltiness perception in gels and emulsion-filled gels are also reviewed. Saltiness perception can be improved through addition of biopolymers (proteins and polysaccharides) due to their ability to modulate texture and/or to adhere to or penetrate through the mucosal membrane on the tongue to prolong sodium retention. The composition of the product and the distribution of salt within the matrix are the two main factors affecting the perception of salty taste. Food structure re-design can lead to control the level of interaction between the salt and other components and change the structure, which in turn affects the mobility and release of the salt. The change of ingredients/matrix can affect the texture of the product, highlighting the importance of sensory evaluation.

Saltiness enhancement by "má là" umami flavor in NaCl model aqueous and oil-added systems

The health concerns associated with high dietary sodium and the quest for a sensory experience have prompted the need for new strategies that can reduce the salt content of foods and have good acceptability. To investigate the cross-modal interaction effects of "má là" umami flavor (total of eight carriers) on the saltiness perception and effective sodium reduction in low-to-strong NaCl aqueous solutions (0.203 %-1.39 %) and oil-added systems (5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, 25 % canola oil, wt%), sixteen assessors were selected and two methods including saltiness intensity comparison with a category scale and rating with a generalized Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS) were used. The results showed PnSnUn carriers significantly enhance saltiness at moderate-to-strong NaCl solutions, and higher saltiness intensity with the addition of canola oil, especially at 25 % oil level. In addition, based on the developed Stevens' power function the sodium reduction was calculated, it was evident that two "má là" umami flavor combinations (one flavor combination was low "má", low "là" and moderate umami, and the other flavor combination with moderate "má", low "là" and moderate umami) were found to perform best with maximum sodium reduction of 18.88 % and 18 %, respectively, and when incorporating 25 % canola oil, the maximum sodium reduction raised by approximately 10 % (to 28.00 % and 28.42 %). This research not only confirmed the positive modulating effect of the "má là" umami flavor on saltiness perception in NaCl solutions, but also showed that the presence of oil further enhanced this effect. This work offered a new and promising insight into the development of foods with reduced sodium content while maintaining the saltiness properties.

Mastering the art of taming: Reducing bitterness in fish by-products derived peptides

Processed fish by-products are valuable sources of peptides due to their high protein content. However, the bitterness of these peptides can limit their use. This review outlines the most recent advancements and information regarding the reduction of bitterness in fish by-products derived peptides. The sources and factors influencing bitterness, the transduction mechanisms involved, and strategies for reducing bitterness are highlighted. Bitterness in peptides is mainly influenced by the source, preparation method, presence of hydrophobic amino acid groups, binding to bitter receptors, and amino acid sequence. The most widely utilized techniques for eliminating bitterness or enhancing taste include the Maillard reaction, encapsulation, seperating undesirable components, and bitter-blockers. Finally, a summary of the current challenges and future prospects in the domain of fish by-products derived peptides is given. Despite some limitations, such as residual bitterness and limited industrial application, there is a need for further research to reduce the bitterness of fish by-products derived peptides. To achieve this goal, future studies should focus on the technology of fish by-products derived peptide bitterness diminishment, with the aim of producing high-quality products that meet consumer expectations.

Changes in flavor substances during the processing of boneless cold-eating rabbit meat

Cold-eating rabbit is a traditional Chinese delicacy made by the process of pickling and frying. To explore the relationship between the flavor of cold-eating rabbit and the production process, this study investigated the changes of nucleotides, free amino acids, fatty acids, and volatile flavor substances in diced, marinated for 10 min, marinated for 20 min, fried for 5 min, re-fried for 10 min, re-fried for 15 min, re-fried for 20 min, seasoned and fried, and in the finished product, and analyzed the changes of flavor substances in deboned rabbit at different processing stages. Results showed that the content of 5'-inosine monophosphate (IMP) increased significantly (p < .05), indicating that the degradation pathway mainly involved IMP. In total, 17 free amino acids were detected, the contents of which increased significantly (p < .05). In addition, 27 medium- and long-chain fatty acids were detected. The total concentration of free fatty acids decreased in the fresh rabbit meat-marinated 20 min stage (p < .05), then increased in the fried 5 min-fried 20 min stage (p < .05), and finally decreased in the fried with spices-finished stage (p < .05). Seventy-seven volatile flavor substances were detected, and the 15-minute frying stage was key in producing the volatile flavor substances.

Saturated fat replacement in short dough biscuits with HPMC and lecithin stabilised nanoemulsions

Biscuits contain high proportions of saturated fats, which could lead to an adverse health effect. The objective of this study was to study the functionality of a complex nanoemulsion (CNE), stabilised with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and lecithin, when used as a saturated fat replacer in short dough biscuits. Four biscuit formulations were studied including a control (butter) and three formulations where 33% of the butter was replaced with either extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), with CNE, or with the individual ingredients of the nanoemulsion added separately (INE). The biscuits were evaluated by texture analysis, microstructural characterisation, and quantitative descriptive analysis by a trained sensory panel. The results showed that incorporation of CNE and INE yielded doughs and biscuits with significantly higher (p < 0.05) hardness and fracture strength values than the control. The doughs made of CNE and INE showed significantly less oil migration during the storage than EVOO formulations, which was confirmed by the confocal images. The trained panel did not find significant differences in crumb density and hardness on the first bite among CNE, INE and the control. In conclusion, nanoemulsions stabilised with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and lecithin can work as saturated fat replacers in short dough biscuits, providing satisfactory physical characteristics and sensory attributes.

Encapsulation of bitter peptides in water-in-oil high internal phase emulsions reduces their bitterness and improves gastrointestinal stability

Many peptides exhibit beneficial physiological functions, but their application in foods is limited because of their undesirable taste and their tendency to degrade when exposed to gastrointestinal conditions. In this study, water-in-oil high internal phase emulsions (W/O HIPEs) were used to encapsulate bitter peptides. A combination of confocal fluorescence and electron microscopy was used to confirm the formation of W/O HIPEs. The presence of high concentrations of bitter peptides increased the apparent shear viscosity, shear modulus and sedimentation stability. They also improved the oxidative stability of the HIPEs. Electronic-tongue and sensory analysis showed that encapsulated peptides within the HIPEs substantially reduced their bitterness. Moreover, a simulated gastrointestinal study showed that W/O HIPEs protected peptides from being released in the stomach. Our results show that W/O HIPEs can be used to mask the bitterness and improve the gastrointestinal stability of peptides, which may increase their utilization as bioactive ingredients in foods.

Compendium of sodium reduction strategies in foods: A scoping review

In response to health concerns generated by increased sodium intake, many new approaches have been studied to reduce the sodium content in processed food. It has been suggested that reducing sodium in the food supply may be the most appropriate solution. The aim of this scoping review was to establish what sodium reduction strategies are effective in maintaining acceptable sensory qualities for various food industry applications. Studies that evaluate and report on the effectiveness of a sodium reduction strategy relevant to food and included outcomes detailing how the strategies were received by human subjects using sensory data are included, as well as book chapters, literature reviews, and patents focusing on sodium reduction strategies. Only those published in English and since 1970 were included. Literature was obtained through Scopus, PubMed, EBSCOhost, and ScienceDirect databases, whereas patents were obtained through US Patent Trademark Office, Google Patents, and PATENTSCOPE databases. Two-hundred and seventy-seven primary studies, 27 literature reviews, 10 book chapters, and 143 patents were selected for inclusion. Data extracted included details such as analytical methods, broad and specific treatment categories, significant outcomes, and limitations among other material. Sodium reduction methods were categorized as either salt removal, salt replacement, flavor modification, functional modification, or physical modification. Although salt removal and salt replacement were the majority of included studies, future research would benefit from combining methods from other categories while investigating the impact on sensory characteristics, technological aspects, and consumer perception of the strategy.

Improving the taste profile of reduced-salt dry sausage by inoculating different lactic acid bacteria

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) including Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus sakei, Weissella hellenica, and Lactobacillus plantarum on the taste profiles of reduced-salt dry sausage. The results showed that the inoculation of LAB increased the moisture content and water activity and decreased the pH values of the sausages. Higher contents of total free amino acids (FAAs) were observed in the inoculated sausages (P < 0.05), especially for the sausages inoculated with L. curvatus, W. hellenica, and L. plantarum. The sausage inoculated with W. hellenica also had higher contents of organic acids than the other sausages (P < 0.05). In addition, partial least squares regression analysis demonstrated that the taste properties characterized by electronic tongue were consistent with the sensory evaluation results, and FAAs and organic acids contributed to the taste properties of the reduced-salt dry sausage. These results highlight the potential of W. hellenica and L. plantarum for the production of reduced-salt dry sausage with improved taste profiles.

Effect of the food matrix on the capacity of flavor enhancers in intensifying salty taste

The effect of the flavor enhancers monoammonium glutamate (MAG), monosodium glutamate (MSG), disodium guanylate (GMP), and disodium inosinate (IMP) on intensifying salty taste in food matrices (shoestring potatoes, requeijão cheese, and beef burgers) with a reduction in the amount of sodium chloride (NaCl) present was evaluated. Experiments were conducted using a central composite rotational design with two variables: the concentrations of flavor enhancer and NaCl added in the food matrix. The effect of IMP was not significant (P > 0.05) on the intensity of salty taste in any of the matrices analyzed. GMP presented lower performance compared to MAG and MSG in intensifying the salty taste of the treatments, regardless of the reduction of NaCl. Compared to MSG and GMP, MAG showed greater efficiency in intensifying the salty taste in requeijão cheese and beef burger with a reduction of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of NaCl. MSG presented higher efficiency compared to MAG and GMP when applied in shoestring potatoes for all reductions of NaCl tested (25%, 50%, and 75%). The ability of flavor enhancers to improve the salty taste depends on the effect of the flavor enhancer, the complexity of the food matrix, and the reduction of NaCl in foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The complexity of the food matrix plays a significant role in the perception of salty taste in sodium-reduced products. In these products, sodium reduction may affect the taste enhancer's effect of enhancing salty taste. Therefore, this study broadens the knowledge of the effects of flavor enhancers on different foods, as well as the ability to enhance salty taste in food matrices with NaCl reduction. Moreover, it provides information on how to reduce the sodium content in these matrices while maintaining the same perception of salty taste as a conventional matrix.

Modification of NaCl structure as a sodium reduction strategy in meat products: An overview

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is an indispensable ingredient in meat products, but the consumption of high doses of sodium contained in their formulations may bring about negative health implications. The replacement of NaCl by other salts in meat products has been a technological challenge. Accordingly, this review highlights the importance of NaCl over other sodium and non‑sodium salts in the saltiness perception and proposes the use of reduced-size and shapes of NaCl to maximize saltiness perception, while using less NaCl dosages in meat products. However, the effect of matrix components (water, proteins and fats) on the final salty taste is of special consideration. To counteract the effect of the matrix components, two main routes of incorporation of different NaCl types in meat products are discussed: encapsulation and protection of NaCl by the hydrophobic component of the meat product. Given the limited number of publications using this potential strategy, more studies on the application of these technological strategies are required.

Evaluation by electronic tongue and headspace-GC-IMS analyses of the flavor compounds in dry-cured pork with different salt content

Traditional dry-cured pork, a meat product with a unique flavor and good chewability, occupies an important place in the Chinese market. However, the salt content of dry-cured pork is on the high side and long-term consumption of high-salt meat products is not good for human health. This study determined the role of salt in volatile organic substances and non-volatile taste components of dry-cured pork. Dry-cured pork samples with different salt content (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) were analyzed by electronic tongue for moisture content, pH, salt (NaCl) value, taste activity value, free amino acids, and taste components and by headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry for volatile organic components. The results showed that the moisture content of the tested samples decreased while the salt content increased. The highest amounts of free amino acids were found in dry-cured pork with 3% salt content (P < 0.05). The highest peak area of volatile organic compounds and the maximal taste indexes were found in dry-cured pork with 3% and 5% salt content.

Impact of oral processing on texture attributes and taste perception

Mastication is the first step of food digestion, where foods are broken down and simultaneously impregnated by saliva resulting in the formation of semi-fluids known as food boluses. This review focuses on the impact of oral processing on texture attributes and taste perception. The article describes the oral actions in which texture characteristic are measured for the critical conditions that trigger swallowing. Taste perception also plays a key role in oral processing and oral sensations. There are still challenges in terms of determining different oral physiological characteristics. These include individual chewing behavior regardless of the temporal aspects of dominant processes of comminution, insalivation, bolus formation and swallowing. A comprehensive approach is essential to process favorable foods with respect to the food properties of texture and taste.

Characteristics of Hanwoo cattle and health implications of consuming highly marbled Hanwoo beef

This review addresses the unique characteristics of Hanwoo cattle and potential health implications of consuming highly marbled Hanwoo beef. The Hanwoo breed has high genetic potential for accumulating intramuscular fat (IMF) and producing highly marbled beef. The high level of marbling is achieved through increasing levels of concentrated feed with an extended finishing period. In response to consumer preferences, the level of marbling of Hanwoo beef has been increasing. The IMF content can be manipulated depending on the feeding duration, finishing diet, and genotype. On the other hand, some consumers are expressing concern regarding the consumption of too much animal fat. This review discusses the potential of Hanwoo beef as a dietary source of heart-healthy fats. Highly marbled Hanwoo beef has a high proportion of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) due to the presence of abundant oleic acid. Literature indicates that MUFAs are heart-healthy dietary fats because they can lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. Also, recent clinical trials have indicated that highly marbled beef does not increase LDL-cholesterol and consistently increases HDL-cholesterol. Finally, the current work emphasizes that consumption of high oleic acid Hanwoo beef might potentially reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and may become accepted as a healthy well-being food.

Consumer Acceptability of Intramuscular Fat

Fat in meat greatly improves eating quality, yet many consumers avoid visible fat, mainly because of health concerns. Generations of consumers, especially in the English-speaking world, have been convinced by health authorities that animal fat, particularly saturated or solid fat, should be reduced or avoided to maintain a healthy diet. Decades of negative messages regarding animal fats has resulted in general avoidance of fatty cuts of meat. Paradoxically, low fat or lean meat tends to have poor eating quality and flavor and low consumer acceptability. The failure of low-fat high-carbohydrate diets to curb "globesity" has prompted many experts to re-evaluate of the place of fat in human diets, including animal fat. Attitudes towards fat vary dramatically between and within cultures. Previous generations of humans sought out fatty cuts of meat for their superior sensory properties. Many consumers in East and Southeast Asia have traditionally valued more fatty meat cuts. As nutritional messages around dietary fat change, there is evidence that attitudes towards animal fat are changing and many consumers are rediscovering and embracing fattier cuts of meat, including marbled beef. The present work provides a short overview of the unique sensory characteristics of marbled beef and changing consumer preferences for fat in meat in general.

Evaluation of Beef by Electronic Tongue System TS-5000Z: Flavor Assessment, Recognition and Chemical Compositions According to Its Correlation with Flavor

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of electronic tongue system TS-5000Z to evaluate meat quality based on flavor assessment, recognition and correlation with the meat chemical composition. Meat was sampled from eighteen beef cattle including 6 Wagyu breed cattle, 6 Angus breed cattle and 6 Simmental breed cattle. Chemical composition including dry matter, crude protein, fat, ash, cholesterol and taurine and flavor of the meat were measured. The results showed that different breed cattle had different chemical compositions and flavor, which contains sourness, umami, saltiness, bitterness, astringency, aftertaste from astringency, aftertaste from bitterness and aftertaste from umami, respectively. A principal component analysis (PCA) showed an easily visible separation between different breeds of cattle and indicated that TS-5000Z made a rapid identification of different breeds of cattle. In addition, TS-5000Z seemed to be used to predict the chemical composition according to its correlation with the flavor. In conclusion, TS-5000Z would be used as a rapid analytical tool to evaluate the beef quality both qualitatively and quantitatively, based on flavor assessment, recognition and chemical composition according to its correlation with flavor.

The impact of mastication, salivation and food bolus formation on salt release during bread consumption

Health authorities recommend higher fibre and lower salt content in bread products.