Trinidad Pérez-Palacios

Comparison of different methods for total lipid quantification in meat and meat products.

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficiency of six extraction methods for the quantification of total lipid content in meat and meat products: standard Soxhlet method (with and without previous acid hydrolysis), continuous Soxhlet method (with and without previous acid hydrolysis), and those methods based in the use of a mixture of chloroform and methanol, and described by Folch, Less, and Sloane (1957) and Bligh and Dyer (1959). Lipid content was determined in nine different meat products with different fat contents and physico-chemical features: cooked turkey breast, fresh pork loin, cooked ham, dry-cured ham, mortadella, beef burger, fresh sausage, dry-cured sausage and salami. The most effective methods for determining fat content in the studied meat products were the method described by Folch et al. (1957) and the Soxhlet with previous acid hydrolysis method. The Soxhlet method without previous acid hydrolysis adequately extracted lipids only in those meat products with very high fat content. The use of the method described by Bligh and Dyer (1959) gave rise to the lowest lipid contents in all the studied meat products.

Quantification of furanic compounds in coated deep-fried products simulating normal preparation and consumption: optimisation of HS-SPME analytical conditions by response surface methodology.

The validation of a method for the simultaneous quantification of furanic compounds in coated deep-fried samples processed and handled as usually consumed is presented. The deep-fried food was grinded using a device that simulates the mastication, and immediately analysed by headspace solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Parameters affecting the efficiency of HS-SPME procedure were selected by response surface methodology, using a 2(3) full-factorial central composite design. Optimal conditions were achieved using 2g of sample, 3g of NaCl and 40min of absorption time at 37°C. Consistency between predicted and experimented values was observed and quality parameters of the method were established. As a result, furan, 2-furfural, furfuryl alcohol and 2-pentylfuran were, for the first time, simultaneously detected and quantified (5.59, 0.27, 10.48 and 1.77μgg(-1) sample, respectively) in coated deep-fried fish, contributing to a better understanding of the amounts of these compounds in food.

Subcutaneous and intramuscular lipid traits as tools for classifying Iberian pigs as a function of their feeding background

The present work was aimed to study the feasibility of classifying Iberian pigs fattened with two different diets, acorns and grass (AG) and oleic acid enriched concentrate (HO), by means of comparing the fatty acid profile and the content of different compounds of the unsaponifiable lipid fraction (neophytadiene and α- and γ-tocopherol) of subcutaneous (SCF) and intramuscular (IMF) fat of Biceps femoris and Semimembranosus muscles. The proportions of palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0) and linoleic (C18:2 n-6) acids of the three studied tissues did not show a consistent behaviour as influenced by the feeding. The proportion of oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) was significantly affected by the diet in SCF and IMF of Semimembranosus muscle but not in IMF of B. femoris. Some minor fatty acids, such as arachidonic (C20:4 n-6) and linolenic (C18:3 n-3) acids, showed the best ability for the classification of the animals according to their feeding background and the obtained values showed significant differences caused by the diet in the three studied tissues. Neophytadiene and γ-tocopherol contents were statistically higher in AG than in HO pigs, while there were not differences in the α-tocopherol levels between experimental groups. Thus, it seems that procedures based on the quantification of arachidonic (C20:4 n-6) and linoleic (C18:3 n-3) acids as well as neophytadiene and γ-tocopherol levels would be useful to differentiate Iberian pigs fattened outdoors on acorns and grass from those fed MUFA enriched diets.

Effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid in combination with monounsaturated fatty acids on the meat composition and quality traits of dry-cured loin

Three levels (0%, 1% and 2%) of an enriched conjugated linoleic acid oil (CLA) were combined with two levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (low -19% average and high -39% average) for pig feeding. Composition, weight losses, lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid test, TBARs), change in the fatty acid content of the lipid fractions and sensory analysis of dry-cured loin as affected by dietary CLA, MUFA and CLA×MUFA interaction were studied. CLA and CLA×MUFA did not affect moisture and intramuscular fat content of dry-cured loin, weight losses during the processing, changes in the content of most fatty acids from lipid fractions and sensory traits. CLA and MUFA supplementation led to lower TBARs values (1.3mg MDA/kg sample for 0% CLA and 0.9mg MDA/kg sample for 2% CLA; 1.2mg MDA/kg sample for low MUFA diets and 0.9mg MDA/kg sample for high MUFA diets), the highest TBARs values being detected for 0% CLA-low MUFA diets [1.5mg MDA/kg sample]. The combination of dietary CLA with different MUFA levels in pig diets did not affect most composition and quality traits of dry-cured loin. Dietary CLA and MUFA seemed to lead to lower lipid oxidation in this product.

Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Method for the Determination of Free Amino Acids as Their Dimethyl-tert-butylsilyl (TBDMS) Derivatives in Animal Source Food

The suitability of a one-step derivatization procedure using N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide for the simultaneous assay of 22 free amino acids and its application for their analysis in six animal source foods (pork, dry cured ham, chicken stock, fresh cheese, ripened cheese, and dry salted sardine) by GC-MS were studied. All 22 free amino acid derivatives were correctly detected and resolved. Reproducibility (%RSD) of the method was in the range of 1.9-12.2%. Detection and quantitation limits of the analytical procedure ranged from 0.01 to 0.46 mg/100 g dry weight and from 0.02 to 1.55 mg/100 g dry weight, respectively. The calibration curves were linear within the range 0.1-15.0 mg/100 g with correlation coefficient values (R(2)) from 0.9891 to 0.9983. All analyzed food products showed free amino acid contents similar to those found in the scientific literature. The proposed GC-MS method for the determination of free amino acids in animal source food can be used in routine for both analytical and research purposes.

Impact of cooking and handling conditions on furanic compounds in breaded fish products.

This study evaluates the influence of cooking and handling conditions on the quantity of furanic compounds (furan, 2-furfural, furfuryl alcohol, 2-pentylfuran, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural) in breaded fish products. Oven-baking and reheating in the microwave lead to low furanic compounds formation in comparison with deep-frying. The use of olive oil for deep-frying promoted higher levels of furanic compounds than sunflower oil. The amounts of these compounds diminished as the temperature and time of deep-frying decreased as well as after a delay after deep-frying. Thus, the generation of furanic compounds can be minimized by adjusting the cooking method and conditions, such as using an electric oven, deep-frying in sunflower oil at 160°C during 4min, or waiting 10min after cooking. However, these conditions that reduce furanic compounds levels also reduce the content of volatile compounds related to the aroma and flavour of fried foods. In this sense, new efforts should be done to reduce the formation of furanic compounds without being detrimental to the volatile profile.

Influence of pre-cure freezing of iberian ham on proteolytic changes throughout the ripening process.

This work aimed to investigate the effect of pre-cure freezing Iberian hams on proteolysis phenomena throughout the ripening process. Non-protein nitrogen (NPN), peptide nitrogen (PN) and amino acid nitrogen (AN) as well as amino acid and dipeptide evolution followed the same trend in both refrigerated (R) and pre-cure frozen (F) Iberian hams during processing. At the different stages of ripening, there were no differences in the content of NPN and AN while F dry-cured hams had higher levels of PN than R hams at the final step. This seemed to be more related to the salt content (lower in F than in R hams) than to the pre-cure freezing treatment. Most amino acids and dipeptides detected showed higher concentrations in F than in R Iberian hams at the green stage, being rather similar at the intermediate phases. At the final stage, the effects of pre-cure freezing of Iberian hams were not well defined, higher levels of some amino acids and dipeptides were found in R than in F Iberian hams whereas other amino acids were lower in R than in F hams.

Volatile compounds of fresh and dry-cured loin as affected by dietary conjugated linoleic acid and monounsaturated fatty acids

Three levels (0%, 1% and 2%) of an enriched conjugated linoleic acid oil (CLA) were combined with two levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (low (19%) average and high (39%) average) for pig feeding. The profile of volatile compounds of fresh and dry-cured loin as affected by dietary CLA, MUFA and CLA×MUFA interaction was studied by headspace-solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 27 and 69 compounds were identified in fresh loin and dry-cured loin, respectively. Identified compounds were alcohols, aldehydes, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, furans, ketones, nitrogen compounds, sulphur compounds and terpenes. No qualitative differences in volatile compounds caused by the assayed treatments were found neither in fresh loin nor in dry-cured loin. Dietary CLA, MUFA and their interaction did not affect the level of most detected volatiles. Nevertheless, in fresh loin, the level of heptanal significantly increased due to dietary CLA (p=0.001) and the area units (AU) for ethyl benzene and 1,3-dimethyl benzene increased at 1% CLA (p<0.05). In the case of dry-cured loin, the AU of heptanal, nonanal and 2-nonenal contents increased due to dietary CLA (p=0.016, 0.024 and 0.019, respectively).

Effect of added phosphate and type of cooking method on physico-chemical and sensory features of cooked lamb loins.

This study evaluated the effect of brining with phosphates on the physico-chemical and sensory features of sous-vide and roasted cooked lamb. Lamb loins (n=48) were injected with either 10% w/w of distilled water or a solution containing 0.2% or 0.4% (w/v) of a mixture of phosphate salts. After injection, samples were either sous-vide cooked (12h-60°C) or oven roasted (180°C until 73°C of core temp.). Expressible moisture, cooking loss, instrumental color, pH, water holding capacity, instrumental texture and sensory properties were evaluated. Brining with phosphates led to lower cooking loss in both sous-vide and oven roasted samples, but only the former showed significantly higher moisture content. Phosphates increased instrumental hardness and shear force values in sous-vide samples, while this effect was not as evident in roasted ones. Toughness was reduced and juiciness was improved as a consequence of phosphate addition. Overall, injection of a phosphate solution appears as a potential procedure for improving sensory textural features of cooked lamb whole cuts.

Pre-cure Freezing Effect on Physicochemical, Texture and Sensory Characteristics of Iberian Ham

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of pre-cure freezing on the physicochemical, texture and sensory characteristics of raw and dry-cured hams. Both, refrigerated (R) and pre-cure frozen (F) hams showed the same weight losses during the processing. At the green stage F Iberian hams had lower moisture content, higher values of a* and chroma, lower hardness and chewiness and higher adhesiveness and springiness than R ones. However, at the end of the processing R and F Iberian hams only were different in salt content, F hams showing lower values than R ones. Sensory analysis of Iberian dry-cured ham did not show differences in salty taste. Panelist detected a higher fat hardness and lean pastiness in F than in R hams. The overall acceptability for both groups of dry-cured hams was between average and good.