Lipid oxidation and microbial growth are the major causes of meat quality deterioration. Natural ingredients in meat products have been proposed as a strategy to prevent quality deterioration during cold storage. This study aimed to assess the effects of added chitosan coating, alone and in combination with green tea water extract (GTWE), on the quality of pork chops during prolonged cold storage. For evaluating oxidative and antimicrobial stabilities, 72 fresh pork samples were subjected to four treatments (n = 18 per treatment): T0 (non-coated chops without GTWE); T1 (chitosan-coated chops without GTWE); T2 (chitosan-coated chops plus 0.1% of GTWE); and T3 (chitosan-coated chops plus 0.5% of GTWE). Pork samples were stored at 0 °C and subjected to physicochemical evaluation (pH, colour, and lipid oxidation) and microbiological analyses (mesophilic and pyschrotrophic counts) at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days of storage. GTWE presented high total phenolic content (> 500 mg gallic acid equivalents/g); the incorporation of chitosan coatings increased (p < 0.05) free radical scavenging activity (FRSA, >90% of inhibition) and microbial growth inhibition (>50% for all tested pathogens), depending on the concentration. Further, GTWE inclusion in pork samples (T2 and T3) reduced (p < 0.05) pH, lipid oxidation and microbial counts, as well as colour loss in meat and bone throughout storage. Chitosan coating with GTWE could be used as an additive for the preservation of pork meat products.

The lipid oxidation (LOX) of pork meat has been associated with loss of quality and shorter shelf life. Consequently, synthetic antioxidants have been used to reduce this process, but their use has shown potential health risks. Thus, the use of natural ingredients has been suggested as a strategy to prevent LOX. This study aimed to assess the oxidative stability of pork patties treated with ethanol extract of mesquite leaf (EEML) during storage. Furthermore, the polyphenol composition (TPC, total phenolic, TFC, total flavonoid) and antioxidant activity (antiradical and reducing power activity) of EEML were also evaluated. For this study, five treatments (CN (control), without antioxidant; Asc, ascorbic acid 0.02%; BHT, butylated hydroxytoluene 0.02%; EEML1, 0.05%; and EEML2, 0.1%) of pork patties were applied. Patty samples were stored at 4 °C, and physicochemical parameters, lipid oxidation, total antioxidant capacity of the meat, and sensory analysis were evaluated at 0, 3, 7, and 10 days of storage. EEML presented high values of TPC (278.5 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g) and TFC (226.8 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/g) levels. The addition of EEML did not modify the chemical composition of the pork patties. On the other hand, colour parameters were affected by the inclusion of EEML in pork patties, presenting the lowest a* in the CN group compared to the other groups after 10 days storage. Lipid oxidation increased during the whole period, showing the lowest (P < 0.05) conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values (40% and 90% of inhibition, respectively) compared to the CN group. Regarding sensory analysis, there were no significant differences in colour, appearance, odour, flavour, juiciness, fat sensation, and firmness of the cooked pork patties among treatments. These results suggest that EEML has great potential as a natural antioxidant for meat products.

The present paper reviews the findings of different research studies on the effect of natural ingredients in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) diet on carcass characteristics and meat quality. The results show a relationship between the type and concentration of ingredients used in diets and carcass characteristics and meat quality. The inclusion of medicinal herbs (thyme, black seed, and mint), plants (canola), seeds (chickpea), spices (cinnamon and coriander), worms (earthworms), bee products (propolis), phytochemicals (lycopene), and edible fungi (common mushrooms) in the diet improved carcass quality characteristics compared to the control diets (basal diets). The inclusion of medicinal herbs (spearmint and green tea), spices (cinnamon), vegetables (tomato), plants (verbena and canola), seeds (marijuana), and edible fungi (oyster mushrooms) improved meat quality. In conclusion, the use of ingredients of natural origin in the diet of Japanese quail improves carcass quality characteristics and meat quality.

Actualmente, uno de los objetivos de la industria cárnica es incrementar la vida de anaquel de sus productos, lo anterior debido al aumento en la demanda de los consumidores. La vida útil de estos productos es comúnmente afectada por factores tales como la oxidación de lípidos (LOX) y la actividad microbiana (AM). Para evitarlo, el sector cárnico utiliza aditivos sintéticos (BHT, BHA, TBHQ, entre otros) con actividad antioxidante (AOX) y antimicrobiana (AMA). A pesar de ello, se conoce que estos aditivos ejercen efectos adversos en la salud humana, lo que provoca desconfianza en los consumidores. Por lo anterior, diversos trabajos de investigación se enfocan hacia la búsqueda de nuevos aditivos alimentarios, como son los extractos de hojas de plantas. Sin embargo, su composición y bioactividad están influenciados por el solvente y el método de extracción utilizado durante su obtención, ya que los extractos de hojas de plantas obtenidos con solventes polares y métodos de extracción no convencionales, muestran mayor contenido de fitoquímicos, AOX y AMA. En conclusión, los resultados de diversas investigaciones demuestran la efectividad de estos extractos para extender la vida de anaquel, al reducir la LOX y AM, cuando son incorporados en productos cárnicos.

The effect of propolis ethanol extract (PEE), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ascorbic acid (Asc) against lipid (Lox) and protein oxidation (Pox), color deterioration, and the antioxidant stabilizer of raw beef and pork patties during chilled storage (9 days at 2 °C/under darkness) was investigated. Total phenolic content (TPC), reducing power ability (RPA), DPPH● radical scavenging activity (FRSA) of the PEE was evaluated. Meat samples were evaluated for pH, Lox (TBARS), Pox (Carbonyls), color (L*, a*, b*, C*, and h*), metmyoglobin formation (MMb), TPC, RPA, and FRSA. Results indicated that PEE is rich in phenolic content and antioxidant activity, and their incorporation in beef and pork patties reduced (p < 0.05) Lox and Pox (TBARS-88.7 and 80% inhibition; Pox-47.3 and 30.6% inhibition, respectively), as well as loss of color and increased the oxidative stability throughout storage.

Edible mushrooms are considered an important source of nutritional and bioactive compounds. In this review, the findings of macronutrients, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobials against foodborne pathogens of some Pleurotus spp., as well as their potential use as an ingredient in the meat industry are discussed. The results show that Pleurotus spp. are an important source of proteins and amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. Additionally, the presence of some bioactive components, such as polysaccharides (α-glucans, β-glucans, and so on), proteins/enzymes and peptides (eryngin, pleurostrin, and others) phenolic acids (p-coumaric, chlorogenic, cinnamic, ferulic, gallic, protocatechuic, and others) and flavonoids (chrysin, naringenin, myricetin, quercetin, rutin, or the like) has been demonstrated. Several works evidenced the use of Pleurotus spp. in some meat and meat products (patties, sausages, paste, and suchlike) as a novel ingredient in order to improve their chemical composition and functional health promoting properties, as well as to increase their physicochemical and sensory attributes. In conclusion, the use of Pleurotus is a promissory strategy for the development of natural additives rich in nutritional and bioactive components for meat and meat product formulation.

The present manuscript reviews the findings of different research studies that evaluate the use of fungal solid-state (SSF) and submerged culture fermentation (SCF) with agro-industrial residues as substrates to enhance the production of polyphenols and their possible uses as food additives. Some agro-industrial residues (peels, pulps and seeds) are an important source of phenolic acids (p-coumaric, p-hydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic, cinnamic, ferulic, gallic, gentisic, protocatechuic, rosmarinic, salycilic, syringic, and vanillic acids) and flavonoid compounds (apigenin, chrysin, (+)-catechin, kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin, rutin, hesperetin, and naringin). In addition, the utilization of these residues as substrates in SCF and SSF enhances polyphenol production, improves biological function by increasing antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and provides a potential alternative to synthetic antioxidant uses in the meat and meat products industry.

Los hongos comestibles han sido descritos como una fuente importante de compuestos biológicos capaces de reducir la carga de bacterias patógenas y los niveles de radicales libres en los alimentos. En este estudio, se determinó el análisis químico proximal de las harinas de hongos comestibles (Agaricus brasiliensis, Ganoderma lucidum y Pleurotus ostreatus). Asimismo, se determinó el efecto del solvente (agua, etanol y una mezcla de agua-etanol) sobre las propiedades fisicoquímicas, contenido de fenoles, actividad antimicrobiana y antioxidante de los extractos de hongos comestibles. Los resultados indican que las harinas de G. lucidum y P. ostreatus mostraron (p < 0.05) el contenido más bajo de humedad (< 4%), lípidos (< 2%), el contenido más alto de carbohidratos (> 80%), y P. ostreatus el contenido más bajo de ceniza y el más alto en proteínas (p < 0.05). Los extractos acuosos de los hongos presentaron los valores más altos de luminosidad y TSS (total soluble solids, por sus siglas en inglés) (p < 0.05). Los extractos de P. ostreatus presentaron alto rendimiento de extracción (> 40%), pH, color rojo, color amarillo y contenido de fenoles y flavonoides (p < 0.05). Por otra parte, los extractos etanólicos y acuoso-etanólicos de G. lucidum y P.  ostreatus con un alto efecto inhibidor sobre Staphylococcus aureus > Listeria innocua > Escherichia coli > Salmonella typhimurium (p < 0.05). Respecto a la actividad antioxidante, los extractos de P. ostreatus presentaron el mayor poder reductor y actividad antirradical; mientras que, los extractos etanólicos y acuoso-etanólicos de G. lucidum y P. ostreatus la mayor inhibición en la oxidación de lípidos (p < 0.05). Los extractos de hongos comestibles evaluados podrían utilizarse como ingredientes antimicrobianos y antioxidantes para la industria alimentaria.