Biogenic amines (BAs) can be found in a wide range of meat and meat products, where they are important as an index for product stability and quality, but also for their impact on public health. This review analyzes the scientific evidence gathered so far on the presence and role of biogenic amines in meat and meat products, also considering the effect of technological conditions on BAs accumulation or decrease. The data provided can be useful for developing solutions to control BAs formation during the shelf-life, for example by novel starters for dry cured products, as well as by packaging technologies and materials for fresh meats. Further research, whose trends are reviewed in this paper, will fill the knowledge gaps, and allow us to protect such perishable products along the distribution chain and in the home environment.

Annurca apple juice was processed by high pressure homogenization (HPH) to inactivate the endogenous microbial flora, with the aim of maintaining the organoleptic properties and the polyphenolic content of the fresh juice. In particular, it was shown that the shelf life of clear juice can be prolonged for many weeks of storage both at 4°C and 37°C upon HPH treatment at 250 MPa. Instead, the juice with pulp required higher pressure levels (300 MPa) for microbial stabilization both at 4°C and 37°C. The sample stored at 37°C exhibited a physical instability, with deviation in color and pH, which reduced the shelf life, but the samples stored at 4°C exhibited an excellent microbial stability and no observable variation of pH and color, suggesting that HPH can represent a good option for non thermal pasteurization of Annurca apple juice.Interestingly, the HPH treatment delivered also significant changes to the distribution of suspended particles, whose comminution had a measurable effect on viscosity.

By-products from the coffee industry are produced in large amounts each year. Among other wastes, coffee silver skin (CSS) is highly available and more stable due to its lower content of water. This research aimed to characterize coffee silver skin composition and evidence its potentiality for use as a food-safe ingredient in new formulations. Results showed an average total dietary fiber content of 50% but with a higher ratio for insoluble than soluble fiber. A high content of total phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid, caffeine, and caffeic acid was found and correlated with the high measured antioxidant capacity. Moreover, minerals (e.g., calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, copper, iron, manganese) important for human wellbeing were found at a high level in CSS, while toxic minerals (e.g., nickel) were found at low levels. In conclusion, coffee silver skin could have an advantageous role for the recovery of valuable compounds and as a potential food-safe ingredient.

Coffee Silver Skin (CSS) is the unique by-product discarded after the roasting of coffee beans. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of two levels of CSS (1.5% and 3%) added as a natural ingredient in new formulations of chicken meat burgers. This is one of the first studies proposing a “formulation approach” to control the emergence of off flavours after meat cooking. Physical, chemical, and sensory analyses were carried out, within the CSS content and the evolution of volatile organic compounds in different samples. Newly formulated chicken burgers could limit food waste, while also becoming a source of fibres, minerals, and bioactive molecules. CSS limited weight losses (after cooking process) to 10.50% (1.5% addition) and 11.05% (3% addition), significantly lower (p < 0.01) than the control (23.85%). In cooked burgers, the occurrence of hexanal was reduced from 55.1% (CTRL T0) to 11.7% (CSS T0 1.5%) to 0 (CSS T0 3%). As for the limitation of off-flavours, CSS also showed good activity, contrasting with the emergence of octanal, alcohols and other markers of lipid oxidation. From the sensory test carried out, the volatile profile of CSS does not seem to impair the flavour of burgers, though at higher percentages hydrocarbons and pyrazines are traceable. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS assay confirmed the protective effect of CSS against oxidation.

Biogenic amines (BAs) are low-molecular-weight, nitrogenous compounds (mainly polar bases) coming from the decarboxylation of free amino acids or by amination or transamination of aldehydes and ketones [...]