One-day-old broiler chicks (n = 300) were orally vaccinated (Coccivac-B) and divided into 6 groups to evaluate Arg at 3 levels of supplementation, 0, 0.3, or 0.6% [normal level (NARG), medium level (MARG), or high level (HARG), respectively], and 2 levels of vitamin E (VE), 40 or 80 IU/kg of feed (VE40 or VE80, respectively), in a factorial experiment. Birds were reared in floor pens with fresh pine shavings and provided a corn-soybean-based diet and water ad libitum. At d 14, all chickens were orally challenged with a mixture of Eimeria field isolates (Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima, and Eimeria tenella). In vitro heterophil and monocyte oxidative burst (HOB and MOB, respectively) was measured at d 21 from cells isolated from peripheral blood. Antibody levels (IgG, IgM, and IgA isotypes, ELISA) and NO were measured at d 14 and 28. The HOB was lower in birds fed the VE40 diets but was increased with the MARG and HARG treatments, whereas birds fed the VE80 diet had a higher HOB irrespective of Arg level. Birds fed the VE80 diet had high levels of MOB, which was not further improved by Arg, whereas birds fed the VE40-MARG diet had the highest MOB response. Plasma NO was not affected by diet at d 14, but at d 28, plasma NO was higher in birds fed the VE80-MARG or the VE40-NARG diet and lower in birds fed the VE80-NARG or the VE40-MARG diet. Birds fed the VE40-HARG or VE80-MARG diet had the highest IgG levels at d 14, but at d 28, birds fed the VE80-MARG diet had the highest IgG levels. The IgM concentration was lower in birds fed NARG levels irrespective of VE levels at d 14, but at d 28, IgM levels were higher in birds fed the VE40-HARG or the VE80-MARG feed. The IgA concentration was not consistently affected at d 14 or 28. These results suggest that Arg and VE fed at levels higher than those recommended by the NRC may play complementary roles on the innate and humoral immune response against an Eimeria challenge, potentially improving vaccine efficacy and response to field infections.

As consumer demand for all-natural marinades increases, the need to replace phosphate with a natural product that can produce equivalent or improved yield in products such as but not limited to rotisserie chickens (whole birds without giblets) and boneless/skinless breast (BSB) is a challenge for processors. The objective of this study was to determine if using an all-natural nonphosphate blend (SavorPhos-200, SP) in water-based (WB) and oil-based (OB) marinades would perform better than a commercial phosphate blend (PB). The treatments included WB+PB (water, 0.4% phosphate, 0.7% salt), WB+SP (water, 0.5% SavorPhos-200, 0.7% salt), OB+PB (water, 3% oil, 0.4% phosphate, 0.7% salt), and OB+SP (water, 3% oil, 0.5% SavorPhos-200, 0.7% salt). The rotisserie chickens and BSB were injected with a multineedle injector to 20% (wt/wt) pickup at a constant pressure (103-138 kPa). The parameters measured were marinade pickup %, 20-min and 24-h marinade retention %, and cook loss %. Color, tenderness, total moisture, and sensory test were conducted on BSB. Data were analyzed within marinade type (WB and OB). Rotisserie birds picked up and retained the same yield in WB marinades. In OB marinades, SP had higher yields postinjection and lower cook loss % than the PB, while retaining the same yield over 24 h. For BSB, the cook loss was lower in SP than the PB in WB marinades. Higher yields postinjection were achieved with OB, but had the same retention 20 min and 24 h postinjection and cook loss % as the PB. No differences were observed for total moisture or L* (lightness) within marinade type and treatment. Texture was lower, indicating increased tenderness (P < 0.05) on SP samples in both marinades. However, consumers were not able to distinguish between treatments in sensory analyses. Therefore, SavorPhos-200 can be used as a natural nonphosphate blend in WB marinades with no detriment to yield. In addition, SavorPhos-200 can be used as a natural nonphosphate blend in OB marinades with yield improvements.

Chicken nuggets are commonly made with varying levels of textured vegetable proteins, such as soy and wheat, for their ability to bind water and their meat like conformation. This project compared textured wheat proteins and soy proteins at 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% in emulsified chicken nuggets. A total of 3,024 chicken nuggets were evaluated in replications for batter breader pickup (%), par fry yield (%), cook loss (%), L*, a*, b* color value, texture profile analysis, and sensory analysis. The analysis was conducted for all 4 concentrations of wheat and soy treatments then compared to each other and an all white meat chicken nugget control. All data were analyzed with an α < 0.05 using SAS with PROC GLM and Duncan's MRT, except for sensory data, which were analyzed as a complete randomized block design using analysis of variance with a α < 0.05 and was analyzed using SAS with PROC GLM. Chicken nuggets prepared with increasing levels of textured soy and wheat proteins exhibited generally similar properties in terms of yields, color, and objective texture. Trained panel sensory analysis indicated an increased detection of soy flavors over wheat flavors at higher inclusion percentages (30% and 40%); however, these results do not have any implication of consumer acceptance.

Essential oils and their constituents are reported to possess potent antimicrobial activity, but their use in food processing is limited because of low solubility in aqueous systems and volatilization during processing. Two proprietary noncommercial essential oil-containing phosphate blends were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Salmonella enterica cocktail (SC)-and Listeria monocytogenes (Lm)-inoculated deli meat products made from pork, poultry, or beef. Four treatments were tested on restructured cured pork ham, emulsified chicken bologna, and restructured beef loaf: nonencapsulated essential oil with phosphate version 1 at 0.45% of final batch (EOV145; chicken and pork, or EEOV245 beef), micronized encapsulated essential oil with phosphate version 2 at 0.60% of final batch (EEOV260), a 2.0% potassium lactate (PL) control, and a negative control (CN) with no applied antimicrobial agent. Compared with the CN, none of the antimicrobial agents (EEOV260, EOV145, PL) successfully limited Lm or SC growth to <2.0 log cycles over 49 days or 35 days of refrigerated storage, respectively. The PL and EEOV260-treated ham loaves did show Lm growth limiting ability of up to 1 log cycle by days 35 and 42. On formed roast beef, the EEOV260 was able to extend the lag phase and inhibited the growth of Lm in the same manner as the PL. For SC-treated samples, the following effects were observed: in poultry bologna treated with EEOV260, a lag-phase extension was observed through 35 days of storage compared with the other samples. For pork deli loaves, the EEOV260 inhibited growth of SC at days 21 and 28 to the same level of efficacy as PL (0.5 log cycle). In roast beef samples, on day 35, the SC growth was inhibited ca. 0.5 log CFU/g by EEOV260 when compared with the CN. In conclusion the EEOV260 can function to replace PL to limit Salmonella and Lm growth in ready-to-eat deli products. Further testing is needed to ensure consumer acceptability.

This study evaluated the efficacy of organic acids applied singly or in combination as postlethality dips to sliced uncured turkey deli loaves to inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) Scott A. Treatments consisted of sodium lactate (SL; 3.6%), potassium lactate (PL; 3.6%), sodium citrate (SC; 0.75%), a combination of SL and sodium diacetate (SDA; 0.25%), and a combination of SL/PL/SDA, alongside appropriate negative and positive controls. Products were inoculated with 104–105 CFU/mL streptomycin-resistant (1500 μg/mL) Lm Scott A prior to treatment. Products were then stored at ~4°C and sampled at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56 d. The SL/SDA combination applied to turkey slices extended the lag phase through 21 days of refrigerated storage. Numbers of Lm Scott A rose by 0.7 log10 CFU/g through the 56 d storage period. The application of the SL/PL/SDA treatment to turkey product surfaces extended the lag phase through 42 d, with pathogen numbers declining after 21 d. Combination organic acid dips prolonged the lag phase for 2 to 6 wk on turkey product surfaces and can be useful as antimicrobial agents for Lm control on postlethality exposed sliced deli products.