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The effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oil (REO) and modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the survival of certain pathogens (Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes) in poultry fillets and on their meat quality during 7 days of refrigerated storage were investigated. Because REO at 0.05% and 0.1% had weak antibacterial activity and REO at 0.3%, 0.5% and 1.0% imparted unacceptable organoleptic properties, only REO at 0.2% was used to treat the poultry meat. The results showed that adding 0.2% REO to poultry fillets did not reduce the size of the population of S. Typhimurium and L. monocytogenes. However, REO treatment significantly decreased the L* (lightness) value and increased the a* (redness) value of stored fillets, and adding REO in combination with MAP reduced the level of lipid oxidation. In conclusion, in a suitable combination, REO can be applied to improve the quality of meat, but further studies should be conducted to determine the appropriate commercial level for different meat products.

This experiment intended to assess the effect of sesame (SO), sunflower (SFO) and linseed (LO) oils on growth performance, fatty acid composition of fillet and liver or flesh quality traits of rainbow trout. Fish fed different four iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic experimental feeds. The control feed contained only fish oil as the primary lipid source. The fillet eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels were the highest in fish fed control feed. In contrast, the liver eicosapentaenoic acid level was the highest in fish fed LO feed. Fish fed SFO feed had the highest level of total nÀ6 fatty acids in fillet and liver. Fish fed SO feed had the highest level of 18:1 nÀ9 fatty acid in fillet and liver. During the 12 days refrigerated storage period at 1°C, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and pH values gradually increased in all dietary groups. However, trimethylamin nitrogen (TMA-N) values increased in all dietary groups between days 0 and 9 during the storage period. Generally, pH value in fillets of control group was slightly higher than the other fish groups during 12 days refrigerated storage. Nevertheless, the chemical indicators of spoilage, TBA, TMA-N and pH values were in the limit of acceptability for human consumption. Results of growth performance and chemical tests in the present study showed that sesame, linseed and sunflower oils could be used in feeds for rainbow trout. Moreover, we concluded that further researches should be carried out on the partial replacement of fish oil by sesame oil in rainbow trout nutrition.

PurposeThis paper aims to determine the microbiological and chemical quality of halva samples obtained from retail markets and producers in the Marmara region.Design/methodology/approachHalva samples (120) were collected at intervals between March 2007 and February 2008. Samples were investigated for the microbiological (aerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, molds/yeasts, Salmonella spp. and staphylococcal enterotoxins) and chemical (sesame oil, protein, moisture, ash content, tahini, acidity, total sugar content and peroxide values) quality.FindingsOverall, 36.66 per cent (44/120) tahini halva samples were of unacceptable quality based on recommended criteria of microbiological (39 of 120, 32.5 per cent) and chemical quality (21 of 120, 17.5 per cent) by the Turkish Food Codex. Salmonella spp. and staphylococcal enterotoxins were not determined in the samples.Originality/valueTahini halva, which is one of the oldest traditional desserts and is popular in Middle Eastern and North African countries, has not been extensively investigated for microbiological safety. This study is important in the identification of risk factors for the presence of microorganisms and assessment of the quality of halva.

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PurposeThe present paper seeks to determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria (L.) monocytogenes in several cheese varieties.Design/methodology/approachA total 280 cheese samples (105 white cheese, 70 processed cheese, 45 dil cheese and 60 kasar cheese) purchased from supermarkets in six provinces of Turkey were collected at intervals between March 2007 and February 2008.FindingsThe results showed that 1.9 percent of white cheese samples were contaminated with Salmonella spp, whereas the L. monocytogenes prevalence was 4.8 percent in this type of cheese sample. The prevalence of L. monocytogenes in processed cheese and kasar cheese were found to be 1.4 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively. No Salmonella spp. was isolated from these cheese varieties. Neither Salmonella spp. nor L. monocytogenes were found in dil cheese samples examined.Originality/valueCheese is a ready to eat product that with a low incidence of contamination may pose great public health concerns. Microbiological evaluation of different cheese samples produced with different manufacturing methods and the possible effects of manufacturing methods on the microbiological quality of these cheese samples are the originality criteria of the study. The cheeses were also sold in a very restricted area of Turkey. The results of this study indicate that white cheese has the highest rates of contamination due to the lack of standardized procedures of manufacturing and ripening.

Meat quality characteristics of Turkish indigenous Hair goat kids reared under an extensive production system were investigated in this study. A total of 60 Hair goat kids (30 females and 30 males) were slaughtered at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of ages. Slaughter age significantly affected meat quality characteristics. Cooking loss (P < 0.01) and shear force value (P < 0.001) increased with age. Meat color became darker red with increasing slaughter age (P < 0.001). The percentage of fat of musculus (M.) semimembranosus increased with age (P < 0.01). The percentage of saturated fatty acids was significantly higher (P < 0.01), whereas the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids was lower (P < 0.001) in the M. longissimus dorsi of the kids slaughtered at 3 months of age than those in the other age groups. The females had higher intramuscular fat than that in males (P < 0.001) and meat from male kids contained a higher percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acid than that from females (P < 0.01). In conclusion, meat from Hair kids slaughtered between 3 and 9 months of ages had better quality than those slaughtered at the other ages and also meat from male kids had better quality than those female kids slaughtered at the same age under extensive production system.