Cesar Sary

Consumer profile and acceptability of cooked beef steaks with edible and active coating containing oregano and rosemary essential oils

Fresh animal products are highly perishable and characterized by a short shelf-life. Edible coatings with natural antioxidants (essential oils: EOs) could improve stability, ensure quality, and increase the shelf-life of fresh products. Due to the strong flavor of EOs, their use should consider consumer preferences and sensory acceptability. This study evaluated the effects of edible coating (with oregano and rosemary essential oil) on beef in relation to consumer preferences, besides the determination of habits of consumption and buying intentions of consumers. Acceptability scores from three clusters of consumers was described. Coating with oregano was the preferred. The higher consumer acceptance and willingness to buy this product indicate a great potential and possibility of using coatings with essential oils in fresh animal products.

Fatty Acid Composition and Carotenoids in Raw and Grilled Tilapia GIFT Fillets Supplemented with Lycopene, β-Carotene and Lutein

This study evaluated the incorporation of β-carotene, lutein and lycopene into tilapia (genetically improved farmed tilapia, GIFT) fillets supplemented through 0, 20 and 40 days, and their influence on the fatty acid composition and nutritional quality of raw and grilled fillets. A control diet and a diet containing those carotenoids were elaborated with the same lipid source (soybean oil). For carotenoids analysis, the extraction was performed according to the literature, employing acetone and hexane. The relative intensities of m/z ratios of those carotenoids ions were obtained by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with chemical ionization at atmospheric pressure (UPLC-APCI MS/MS), and an increase of carotenoid concentration in the supplemented fillets was observed, especially after the grilling process (180 oC for 15 min). An increase in the concentration of total carotenoids in grilled fillets (75 and 35% higher than raw fillets, for 20 and 40 days of supplementation, respectively, corresponding to 8.32 and 2.42 μg β-carotene g sample) was also observed. Therefore, the carotenoids promoted the stability of lipid oxidation in grilled samples; fact that can be correlated with antioxidant effect of these compounds, it can be also explained by the breakdown of carotenoids physical barrier and the conditions used in the grilling process. Moreover, acceptable n-6/n-3 indices and recommended polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/ SFA) values were observed in supplemented fillets. Consequently, lutein, β-carotene and lycopene were considered viable as additive on fish diet, since the supplementation promoted the increase of food quality, even after preparation for consumption.

Quality and sensory acceptability of fish fillet (Oreochromis niloticus) with alginate-based coating containing essential oils

The quality and sensory acceptability of fish fillet (Oreochromis niloticus) with alginate-based coating containing ginger and oregano essential oils (EO) were evaluated. The antioxidant activity of essential oil, coating, and fish were also investigated. In relation to lipid oxidation, a decrease was observed in fish with the edible coatings compared to the control being the coating with oregano EO the most effective and also with the highest antioxidant activity. Loss in color and weight were significantly lower with coating. Fish with coating maintained firmness whereas fish without coating became softer. Fish with edible coating and oregano essential oils showed higher sensory acceptability regarding to odor evaluated by consumers. Thus, edible coatings with essential oils as natural antioxidant improved the product quality and sensory acceptability.