Processing and Nutritional Evaluation of Animal Products

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Meat".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2025) | Viewed by 12118

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 102401, China
Interests: meat; muscle food; proteins; lipids; fatty acids; food science

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Guest Editor
School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Interests: lipid oxidation; processing; lipids; meat; fatty acids; food science

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Guest Editor Assistant
Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: lipid oxidation; processing; lipids; meat; fatty acids; food science
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Animal products (e.g., meat, aquatic, dairy products, and eggs) play an increasingly important role in our modern diet and ensuring food security. Processing is an indispensable part of food manufacturing to convert raw material into desirable and digestible forms. The processing of animal products includes both physical, chemical, and biological technologies, such as drying, salting, smoking, enzymolysis, fermenting, etc. There has been increased interest recently in the functional development and utilization of animal by-products, such as animal bone collagen peptides, animal blood, egg shell calcium, and egg shell membrane peptides, etc.  These processing technologies are applied to fulfil some critical requirements of the food industry and consumers, such as safety and enhanced shelf life. They also allow the production of designer products that fulfil special requirements such as reduced sodium, high fiber content, and improved product stability against oxidative processes. Recently, there has been increasing market demand for products with increased functional and nutraceutical value. Nutritional value is an important characteristic for animal products. Nutritional evaluation plays a very important role in guiding the processing of animal products, especially for some functional foods. Meanwhile, scientific nutritional evaluation can also help consumers gain a more accurate understanding of animal products.

Dr. Guofeng Jin
Dr. Yuanyuan Liu
Guest Editors

Dr. Xiaoyan Tang
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

  • animal products
  • processing technologies
  • quality changes
  • animal by-products
  • nutritional evaluation
  • animal proteins and peptides
  • animal lipids

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 918 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Potential of Duck Egg White Jelly: Enhancing Texture, Reducing Phosphate, and Innovating Emulsified Meat Snacks
by Nian-Yao Zheng, Yen-Po Chen, Yu-Cheng Liu, Jia-Shian Shiu, Lian-Ben Chang and Sheng-Yao Wang
Foods 2024, 13(23), 3892; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13233892 - 2 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1459
Abstract
Duck egg white jelly, a protein-rich, alkali-induced gel, mirrors preserved duck egg white in appearance and properties, offering easier storage and utility, especially when excess egg white is available. This research focuses on incorporating duck egg white jelly into emulsified meat snacks to [...] Read more.
Duck egg white jelly, a protein-rich, alkali-induced gel, mirrors preserved duck egg white in appearance and properties, offering easier storage and utility, especially when excess egg white is available. This research focuses on incorporating duck egg white jelly into emulsified meat snacks to enhance texture while reducing the phosphate content. This study suggests that adding phosphate and duck egg white jelly increases raw meat paste pH, affecting its viscosity. With half the usual phosphate and either 3.0% or 6.0% jelly, the pH significantly increases compared to the control paste, containing 0.2% phosphate (p < 0.05). Viscosity remains unaffected in the group with 6.0% jelly and no phosphate versus the control (p > 0.05). The least favorable viscosity is observed in pastes without phosphate or jelly, suggesting that the jelly plays a similar role to phosphate. After boiling and shaping the pastes into emulsified meat snacks, their texture profiles and water-holding capacities were analyzed. Formulas with phosphate and jelly produced emulsified meat snacks with improved springiness, chewiness, reduced cooking loss, and decreased purge loss during storage. Color analysis showed no significant differences between the control and treatment groups (p > 0.05). Duck egg white jelly, when added, effectively reduces the phosphate content while enhancing texture and consumer acceptance of emulsified meat snacks. It serves as a versatile ingredient for low-phosphate, emulsified meat products, with potential for various meat combinations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Processing and Nutritional Evaluation of Animal Products)
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16 pages, 3566 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Ultrasound Treatment on the Structural and Functional Properties of Tenebrio molitor Myofibrillar Protein
by Xiu Wang, Xiangxiang Ni, Chaoyi Duan, Ruixi Li, Xiao’e Jiang, Mingfeng Xu and Rongrong Yu
Foods 2024, 13(17), 2817; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13172817 - 5 Sep 2024
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 2534
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore the impacts of various ultrasonic powers (0, 300, 500, 700, and 900 W) on the structure and functional attributes of the myofibrillar protein (MP) of Tenebrio molitor. As the ultrasonic intensity escalated, the extraction [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to explore the impacts of various ultrasonic powers (0, 300, 500, 700, and 900 W) on the structure and functional attributes of the myofibrillar protein (MP) of Tenebrio molitor. As the ultrasonic intensity escalated, the extraction efficiency and yield of the MP rose, while the particle size and turbidity decreased correspondingly. The reduction in sulfhydryl group content and the increase in carbonyl group content both suggested that ultrasonic treatment promoted the oxidation of the MP to a certain extent, which was conducive to the formation of a denser and more stable gel network structure. This was also affirmed by SEM images. Additionally, the findings of intrinsic fluorescence and FTIR indicated that high-intensity ultrasound significantly altered the secondary structure of the protein. The unfolding of the MP exposed more amino acid residues, the α-helix decreased, and the β-helix improved, thereby resulting in a looser and more flexible conformation. Along with the structural alteration, the surface hydrophobicity and emulsification properties were also significantly enhanced. Besides that, SDS–PAGE demonstrated that the MP of T. molitor was primarily composed of myosin heavy chain (MHC), actin, myosin light chain (MLC), paramyosin, and tropomyosin. The aforementioned results confirmed that ultrasonic treatment could, to a certain extent, enhance the structure and function of mealworm MP, thereby providing a theoretical reference for the utilization of edible insect proteins in the future, deep-processing proteins produced by T. molitor, and the development of new technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Processing and Nutritional Evaluation of Animal Products)
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12 pages, 299 KiB  
Article
Impact of Production Systems on the Levels of Vitamin E, β-Carotene, and Cholesterol in the Liver of Cattle Raised in the Eastern Amazon
by Adriny dos Santos Miranda Lobato, Jamile Andréa Rodrigues da Silva, Thomaz Cyro Guimarães de Carvalho Rodrigues, André Guimarães Maciel e Silva, Andrea Viana da Cruz, Ana Paula Damasceno Ferreira, Mónica Mendes Costa, António Marcos Quadros Cunha, Vanessa Vieira Lourenço-Costa, Antônio Vinícius Corrêa Barbosa, José António Mestre Prates, Welligton Conceição da Silva and José de Brito Lourenço-Júnior
Foods 2024, 13(11), 1595; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13111595 - 21 May 2024
Viewed by 1540
Abstract
The nutritional composition of bovine liver, particularly in terms of vitamins E, β-carotene, and cholesterol concentration, is significantly influenced by the cattle-rearing system and diet. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of four predominant cattle-rearing systems in the Eastern Amazon region on [...] Read more.
The nutritional composition of bovine liver, particularly in terms of vitamins E, β-carotene, and cholesterol concentration, is significantly influenced by the cattle-rearing system and diet. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of four predominant cattle-rearing systems in the Eastern Amazon region on the vitamin E, β-carotene content, and cholesterol levels in bovine liver during the rainy season. Liver-tissue samples were collected from 48 cattle, with twelve specimens representing each rearing system. The systems encompassed two native pastures located in flood-prone areas, cultivated pastures on upland terrain and a confinement-rearing system. Our findings indicate that, when considering all rearing systems collectively, there were no significant differences in the levels of vitamins and cholesterol in the liver tissues (p > 0.05). However, a marked disparity in cholesterol levels emerged when comparing intensive rearing systems to extensive ones, with the former demonstrating notably higher concentrations (p = 0.01). Additionally, the intensive rearing system was associated with elevated levels of β-carotene (p < 0.01), α-tocopherol (p = 0.01), and β-tocopherol (p = 0.01) relative to the extensive systems. No significant variations were observed amongst the different extensive systems (p > 0.05). These results suggest that, while all rearing systems yielded liver tissues with typical concentrations of vitamins and cholesterol, the intensive rearing system led to a higher accumulation of certain vitamin compounds. This study highlights the substantial nutritional implications of different cattle-rearing systems in the Eastern Amazon and provides valuable insights for developing dietary strategies to optimize the nutritional quality of bovine liver. Therefore, the generated results are groundbreaking in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil, and inspire the development of new research projects to address other demands in this field and achieve additional outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Processing and Nutritional Evaluation of Animal Products)
18 pages, 1035 KiB  
Article
Evaluation and Discrimination of Lipid Components and Iron and Zinc Levels in Chicken and Quail Eggs Available on the Polish Market
by Małgorzata Czerwonka, Agnieszka Białek, Dorota Skrajnowska and Barbara Bobrowska-Korczak
Foods 2024, 13(10), 1571; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13101571 - 17 May 2024
Viewed by 2178
Abstract
All over the world, birds’ eggs are an important and valuable component of the human diet. This study aimed to compare the content of lipid components and their nutritional value as well as iron and zinc levels in chicken and quail eggs commonly [...] Read more.
All over the world, birds’ eggs are an important and valuable component of the human diet. This study aimed to compare the content of lipid components and their nutritional value as well as iron and zinc levels in chicken and quail eggs commonly available on the market. In egg lipids, unsaturated fatty acids were dominant, especially oleic acid, the content of which was about 40% of the total fatty acids (TFAs). Linoleic acid was the major polyunsaturated fatty acid. Compared to other products of animal origin, eggs were characterized by favorable values of lipid quality indices, especially the index of atherogenicity, thrombogenicity, and the hypocholesterolemic-to-hypercholesterolemic ratio. In the present study, no differences were found in the content of tested nutrients between eggs from different production methods (organic, free-range, barn, cages). Based on linear discriminant analysis, inter-breed differences were noticed. Cluster analysis showed that eggs enriched in n3 PUFAs (according to the producers’ declarations) differed from other groups of chicken eggs. However, in eggs from one producer only, the amount of EPA and DHA exceeds 80 mg per 100 g, entitling the use of the nutrition claim on the package. Quail eggs differed from chicken eggs in FA profile and cholesterol and iron levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Processing and Nutritional Evaluation of Animal Products)
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13 pages, 2187 KiB  
Article
Effects of Gnaphalium affine Extract on the Gel Properties of •OH-Induced Oxidation of Myofibrillar Proteins
by Haijun Chang, Yu Hu, Yuanwei Shi, Jie Xiong and Zhaoying Bo
Foods 2024, 13(10), 1447; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13101447 - 8 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1327
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of Gnaphalium affine extract (GAE) (0.04, 0.2 and 1 mg/g protein) on the gel properties of porcine myofibrillar proteins (MPs) in a simulated Fenton oxidation system, using tea polyphenols (TPs) at similar concentrations of 0.04, 0.2, [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of Gnaphalium affine extract (GAE) (0.04, 0.2 and 1 mg/g protein) on the gel properties of porcine myofibrillar proteins (MPs) in a simulated Fenton oxidation system, using tea polyphenols (TPs) at similar concentrations of 0.04, 0.2, and 1 mg/g protein, respectively, as a contrast. The findings revealed that as the TP concentration increased, the water retention of MP gels decreased significantly (p < 0.05). In contrast, MP gels containing medium and high concentrations of GAE exhibited significantly higher water retention than those with low concentrations of GAE (p < 0.05). When the concentration of GAE was increased to 1 mg/g protein, the strength of MP gels was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by 33.32% compared with the oxidized control group, suggesting that low and medium GAE concentrations support MP gel formation. A texture profile analysis indicated that an appropriate GAE concentration improved gel structure and texture. Dynamic rheological characterization revealed that low concentrations of TP (0.04 mg/g protein) and low and medium concentrations of GAE (0.04 and 0.2 mg/g protein) strengthened the protein gel system. Conversely, high concentrations of TP and GAE (1.0 mg/g protein) damaged the protein gel system or even promoted the collapse of the gel system. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that higher TP concentrations disrupted the gel, whereas low and medium GAE concentrations maintained a more continuous and complete gel network structure compared with the oxidized control group. This indicates that an appropriate GAE concentration could effectively hinder the destruction of the gel network structure by oxidation. Therefore, based on the obtained results, 0.2 mg/g protein is recommended as the ideal concentration of GAE to be used in actual meat processing to regulate the oxidization and gel properties of meat products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Processing and Nutritional Evaluation of Animal Products)
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17 pages, 4770 KiB  
Article
Irradiation-Assisted Enhancement of Foaming and Thermal Gelation Functionality of Liquid Egg White
by Yan Zhang, Jianying Zhao, Lichao He, Jin Zhu, Yue Zhu, Guofeng Jin, Ruihang Cai, Xiaola Li and Chengliang Li
Foods 2024, 13(9), 1342; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13091342 - 26 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1998
Abstract
Ionizing radiation has its unique popularity as a non-thermal decontamination technique treating with protein-rich foodstuffs to ensure the microbial and sensory quality, particularly for shell eggs. However, the changes in the functional properties of egg protein fractions such as liquid egg white (LEW) [...] Read more.
Ionizing radiation has its unique popularity as a non-thermal decontamination technique treating with protein-rich foodstuffs to ensure the microbial and sensory quality, particularly for shell eggs. However, the changes in the functional properties of egg protein fractions such as liquid egg white (LEW) with macro/microstructural information are still controversial. Hence, this study was designed to elaborate the foaming and heat-set gelation functionality of LEW following different γ-ray irradiation dose treatments (0, 1, 3 or 5 kGy). For such, the physicochemical properties (active sulfhydryl and the hydrophobicity of protein moieties), structural characteristics (through X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry) and interfacial activities (rheological viscosity, interfacial tension, microrheological performance) were investigated. Then, the thermal gelation of LEW in relation to the texture profile and microstructure (by means of a scanning electron microscope) was evaluated followed by the swelling potency analysis of LEW gel in enzyme-free simulated gastric juice. The results indicated that irradiation significantly increased the hydrophobicity of liquid egg white proteins (LEWPs) (p < 0.05) by exposing non-polar groups and the interfacial rearrangement from a β-sheet to linear and smaller crystal structure, leading to an enhanced foaming capacity. Microstructural analysis revealed that the higher dose irradiation (up to 5 kGy) could promote the proteins’ oxidation of LEW alongside protein aggregates formed in the amorphous region, which favored heat-set gelation. As evidenced in microrheology, ≤3 kGy irradiation provided an improved viscoelastic interface film of LEW during gelatinization. Particularly, the LEW gel treated with 1 kGy irradiation had evident swelling resistance during the times of acidification at pH 1.2. These results gave new insight into the irradiation-assisted enhancement of foaming and heat-set gelation properties of LEW. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Processing and Nutritional Evaluation of Animal Products)
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