Journal of In Silico & In Vitro Pharmacology

Keywords

Low fat pork sausage; Traditional fat pork sausage; Apple pulp; Pomegranate seed

Introduction

In the World, nearly two-thirds of the deaths that occurred in the global population were due to non-communicable diseases Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease [1]. However, the incidence of these diseases can be reduced by changing behavioral risk factors (eg. tobacco and alcohol consumption) and by promoting a healthy diet and physical activity. A healthy and balanced diet provides different nutrients needed to meet metabolic requirements and is therefore important for proper nutrition [2]. However, meat and meat products also contribute to the intake of fat, Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA), cholesterol, salt, and other substances that can have negative health implications, depending on a variety of factors and pathophysiological circumstances. Thus, it is essential to be familiar with the composition, nutritional value, and health implications and the availability of different strategies to optimize the presence of bioactive compounds to produce healthier low fat pork sausage. Pork is considered to be an excellent source of B-complex vitamins. Meat products are a poor source of fiber; fortification by using fiber-rich fruits and fruits by-products may improve the fiber content of functional meat products. According to Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2010), dietary fibers are under-consumed by most adults indicating that fiber fortification in meat products could have health benefits. Dietary fibers in meat products have other advantages such as fat replacement, increased water holding capacity, and improved oxidative stability when the fiber source is associated with phenolic antioxidants [3]. Apple and pomegranate seeds are a rich source of dietary fiber. Thus the use of dietary fiber for its technological properties and health benefits opens up interesting possibilities in functional meat product development [4]. This dietary fiber has been added as a fat replacer and/or as a functional ingredient. These fruits derivatives rich in natural antioxidants (eg: flavonoids and phenolic compounds) have also been used to enhance the oxidative stability of pork sausages. These plantderived compounds also have anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities and exhibit antimicrobial activity [5]. Different type’s vegetable oils such as olive oil, cottonseed oil, corn, soybean, peanut, marine oils such as fish and algae, or combinations thereof, have been used to replace animal fat in meat products [6]. Incorporation of healthier oils results in an acceleration of lipid oxidation reactions with reduction of shelf life and loss of sensorial and nutritional properties.

Ready to eat value-added meat products are capturing the market due to the convenience as well as a day-to-day fast lifestyle of today’s world. At the same time, consumers are equally aware of the food quality and safety related to human health. Hence, the meat industry is in the continuous process of developing better meat products enriched with fiber and anti-oxidants along with a better shelf-life of the products. As we know, meat is a zero fiber product, adding fibers add to the quality of meat products. Lowfat products that meet the nutritional criteria, taste expectations and convenience are in demand due to the changing lifestyle of people nowadays. Pork can be a part of a healthy diet. Processed meats are convenient but considered to be high-fat foods. Therefore currently the focus has been given to employing various approaches for the reduction of fat in the formulation of meat products with acceptable flavor and texture. The microbial stability and safety of most traditional and novel foods are based on a combination of several factors [7]. The present study was undertaken to develop low fat and high fiber-rich functional pork sausage through the replacement of pork fat with olive oil, apple pulp, and pomegranate seed powder. Their effect on the proximate composition and sensory qualities were studied.

Materials and Methods

Preparation of meat products

The pork meat was purchased from the freshly slaughtered Yorkshire pig carcasses of about 10 months to 1 year of age from the Aizawl market. The meat cuts were brought into the laboratory in polyethylene bags and were trimmed off the external fat. The deboning of the cuts was carried out and back fat and other fats were separated from the lean meat. The meat was cut into uniform size to mince it. Natural casings were used for product making and casings were prepared in the laboratory from goat intestine. Edible olive oil was purchased from the Aizawl market. Apple and pomegranate were purchased from the local market. Apple was washed properly, cut into thin slices, and then dried in a hot air oven at 70ᵒC overnight. Likewise, pomegranate seeds were taken out and dried overnight in a hot air oven at 70 C. Both the dried products were ground properly in a mixer grinder, sieved, and kept in airtight containers for further use. External coverings of the onion and garlic were peeled off, weighed, and taken in the ratio of 3:1. They were cut into smaller bits and blended into a fine paste and were used in the formulations. The spice-mix formula suggested by Hazarika was followed (Table 1) [8]. Spices were oven-dried at 50ᵒC for 3 hrs and were ground in a grinder and sieved through a fine mesh. The fine powder was weighed and taken into the required ratio for the preparation of the spice mixture, which was store in airtight container for further use.

Table 1: Composition of the spice mixture.

Control and treatment pork sausages were prepared by using ingredients as presented in Table 2. Meat chunks and fat were minced in a meat mincer. During mincing/chopping, the temperature was maintained around refrigeration temperature. Lean meat, pork fat, olive oil, dried apple pulp powder, dried pomegranate seed powder was added at various levels for different treatments during chopping of meat in bowl chopper along with other ingredients. The batter was transferred to a stuffer for filling into a natural casing; the encased mass was twisted and manually drawn together to form links and to form cylindrical loops. Sausages were cooked at 80°C for 20 minutes in water and smoked in an artificial smoking unit (Kerres Showsmoker CS 350 EL) for 20 minutes.

Table 2: Ingredients % for the preparation of control and treatment of pork sausages.

Two treatments were prepared, namely, T1: Smoked pork sausage incorporated with 10% pork fat. Sausage batter was in the form of an emulsion. T2: Smoked pork sausage incorporated with 6% olive oil, 2% of each dried apple pulp powder, and pomegranate seed powder. Sausage batter was in the form of an emulsion. The samples were aerobically packed and sealed in LDPE and kept under a domestic refrigerator at 4 ± 1ᵒC for 12 days and were analyzed for different physicochemical and sensory parameters at periodic intervals.

Physico-Chemical Parameters

Proximate composition

Proximate composition, namely, moisture, protein, fat, and total ash percent of samples were determined by standard methods described by AOAC [9].

Organoleptic Evaluation

Sensory evaluation

A semi-trained taste panel consisting of faculty members and postgraduate students of the department of livestock products technology evaluated the samples for the sensory attributes of appearance, flavor, texture, juiciness, and overall acceptability using an eight-point descriptive scale [10], where 8=excellent and 1=extremely poor. The sensory evaluation room was airconditioned at 20 ± 2ᵒC, with Relative Humidity (45-55) percent and shadow-free illumination at (70-100) foot candles. The sensory evaluation was conducted late afternoon [11]. During the evaluation, there was strict prohibition in the interaction among panelists. The test samples were presented to the panelists after assigning the suitable codes. Samples were preheated in the microwave and then serve to the panelists along with a glass of water to rinse their mouth on tasting the product samples.

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed statistically on the “SPSS-16.0” (SPSS Inc., Chicago, II USA) software package as per standard methods [12]. Duplicate samples were drawn for each parameter and the whole set of experiments was repeated three times to have n=4 observations for all parameters. The data were statistically analyzed by two-way ANOVA at the 5 percent level (p<0.05) and evaluated with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test.

Results and Discussion

Proximate composition

Results in Table 3 showed the moisture content of traditional pork sausage (T1) and the low fat pork sausage (T2) were nonsignificant (p>0.05) difference during the storage period, but a significant (p<0.05) difference could be observed between T1 and T2. The higher moisture content of low-fat pork sausage (T2) may be due to the presence of apple pulp and pomegranate seed powder rich in fiber. A similar finding was also recorded by Bose et al., that cracker biscuits treated with fiber-rich chickpea husk as a result increased moisture content [13].

Table 3: Proximate composition (%) of pork sausage.

The protein content of low-fat pork sausage (T1) was significantly (p<0.05) lower than the traditional pork sausage (T2), but a nonsignificant (p>0.05) change in protein (for both T1 and T2) were found during the storage period. The lower protein value of lowfat pork sausage (T2) may be due to the presence of non-meat ingredients when compared with traditional pork sausage (T1). Similar findings were reported by Huang et al., incorporated with wheat fiber, oat fiber, and inulin in Chinese-style sausages [14].

The fat content of low-fat pork sausage (T2) was significantly (p<0.05) lower than the traditional pork sausage (T1), but a non-significant (p>0.05) change in fat (for both T1 and T2) were found during the storage. The lower fat value of low-fat pork sausage (T2) may be due to pork fat replaced with olive oil, apple pulp, and pomegranate seed powder. Similar findings also report by Thomas et al., where pork nuggets incorporating with kordoi (Averrhoa carambola) fruit juice and bamboo (Bambusa polymorpha) shoot extract decreases the fat content [15].

A significantly higher (p<0.05) total ash content was observed for low-fat pork sausage (T2) as compared to traditional pork sausage (T1), it can be due to the use of apple pulp and pomegranate seed powder for preparation of pork sausage, but a non-significant (p>0.05) change in total ash (for both T1 and T2) were found during the storage. The findings of the present study that is increased total ash content are similar to the findings of Yadav et al., chicken sausages incorporated with wheat bran and dried carrot pomace resulted in the increase of total ash content [16].

Mean ± S.E with different superscript(s) in a column differs significantly (P<0.05), (n=4); T1: Smoked pork sausage incorporated with 10% pork fat. Sausage batter was in the form of emulsion, T2: Smoked pork sausage incorporated with 6% olive oil, 2% of each dried apple pulp powder, and pomegranate seed powder. Sausage batter was in the form of an emulsion.

Sensory evaluation

Table 4 showed the sensory evaluation parameters were analyzed at different intervals from 1st day to the 12th day. Sensory evaluation studies indicated that low-fat pork sausage (T2) was preferred over traditional pork sausage (T1) for parameters like color and appearance, flavor, texture, and overall acceptability with a significant difference (p<0.05), but juiciness significantly lower in case of low-fat pork sausage (T1) compared to traditional pork sausage (T2) in 12^th-day storage. Low fat pork sausage (T1) flavor intensity significantly higher (p<0.05) score was observed as compared to traditional pork sausage (T2). The same trend was observed throughout the study period (1^st, 5^th, 7^th, 10^th, and 12^th days). Overall acceptability values indicated that low fat pork sausage (T1) had scored the highest score in between very good and extremely acceptable whereas traditional pork sausage (T2) in between good/moderately acceptable to very much acceptable. Similar findings were also recorded by the Verma et al., in low-fat chicken nuggets treated with apple pulp and Kaur et al., in chicken nuggets treated with pomegranate seed, grapes seed, and tomato powders [17,18].

Table 4: Sensory evaluation of pork sausage.

Mean ± S.E with different single capital letter superscript(s) in a column differ significantly (p<0.05), (n=4); T1: Smoked pork sausage incorporated with 10% pork fat. Sausage batter was in with 6% olive oil, 2% of each dried apple pulp powder, and pomegranate seed powder. Sausage batter was in the form of an emulsion.

Conclusion

Low fat pork sausage (T1) could be manufactured with olive oil and without added animal fat. The low-fat pork sausage would be highly desirable from a diet/health standpoint as they contain monounsaturated vegetable oil, have a lower caloric value, reduced cholesterol, and higher protein content. Storage studies conducted indicated that proximate composition is not affected at 4 ± 1ᵒC for 12 days of domestic refrigeration storage. Sensory attributes of low-fat pork sausage were rated in between extremely acceptable to very good. Ready to eat pork-based functional snacks are a good alternative to junk foods which are currently dominating the snack food industry. Meat products may help to open a new window to the snack food market in developing and underdeveloped countries.

Acknowledgement

I am grateful to the Dean of this Institute and Head of Animal Nutrition Department for providing the necessary facilities to conduct this experiment and to Mr. Vanlalfinga and Mr. Rajesh for their technical help.

References

1. WHO (2011) Global Status Report on Non-communicable Diseases 2010. WHO Library Catalogu­ing-in-Publication Data, Geneva, Switzerland.
2. Olmedilla-Alonso B, Jiménez-Colmenero F, Sánchez-Muniz FJ (2013) Development and assessment of healthy properties of meat and meat products designed as functional foods. Meat Sci 95: 919-930.
3. Choi YS, Choi JH, Han DJ, Kim HY, Lee MA, et al. (2008) Effects of rice bran fiber on quality of low-fat tteok galbi. Food Sci Biotechnol 17: 959-964.
4. Verma AK, Banerjee R (2010) Dietary fiber as a functional ingredient in meat products: a novel approach for healthy living- A review. J Food Sci Tech Mysore 47: 247-257.
5. Zhang W, Xiao S, Samaraweera H, Lee EJ, Ahn DU (2010) Improving the functional value of meat products. Meat Sci 86: 15-31.
6. Jimenez-Colmenero F, Salcedo-Sandoval L, Bou R, Cofrades S, Herrero AM, et al. (2015) Novel applications of oil-structuring methods as a strategy to improve the fat content of meat products. Trend Food Sci Tech 44: 177-188.
7. Mallika EN, Prabhakar K (2011) Effect of hurdles on the quality of low fat pork sausages in storage. Vet Scan Online Vet Med J 6: 98-98.
8. Hazarika P (2005) Studies on value added poultry products from heavy weight broilers. Ph.D. thesis submitted to Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP, India.
9. AOAC (1995) Official methods of Analysis, 16th Edi, Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC.
10. Keeton JT (1983) Effects of fat and NaCl/phosphate levels on the chemical and sensory properties of pork patties. J Food Sci 48: 878-881.
11. Meilgaard MC, Civille GV, Carr BT (2007) Sensory Evaluation Techniques. 4th Edi, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
12. Snedecor GW, Cochran WG (1995) In: Statistical Methods. 8th Edi, Oxford and IBH Pub, New Delhi.
13. Bose D, Shams-Ud-Din M (2010) The effect of chickpea (Cicer arietinim) husk on the properties of cracker biscuits. J Bangladesh Agri Univ 8: 452-467.
14. Huang SC, Tsai YF, Chen CM (2011) Effects of wheat fiber, oat fiber, and inulin on sensory and physicochemical properties of Chinese-style sausages. Asian-Australasian J Anim Sci 24: 875-880.
15. Thomas R, Jebin N, Saha R, Sarma DK (2016) Antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of kordoi (Averrhoa carambola) fruit juice and bamboo (Bambusa polymorpha) shoot extract in pork nuggets. Food Chem 190: 41-49.
16. Yadav S, Pathera AK, Islam RU, Malik AK, Sharma DP (2018) Effect of wheat bran and dried carrot pomace addition on quality characteristics of chicken sausage. Asian-Australasian J Anim Sci 31: 720-729.
17. Verma AK, Sharma BD, Banerjee R (2010) Effect of sodium chloride replacement and apple pulp inclusion on the physicochemical, textural and sensory properties of low fat chicken nuggets. LWT Food Sci Tech 43: 715-719.
18. Kaur S, Kumar S, Bhat ZF, Kumar A (2015) Effect of pomegranate seed powder, grape seed extract and tomato powder on the quality characteristics of chicken nuggets. Nutri Food Sci 45: 583-594.