Physicochemical characterisation of restructured Fenalår and safety implications of salt and nitrite reduction

There is a new trend to produce dry-cured ham from lamb in shorter times by boning the ham before salting to later obtain restructured hams that are easier to dry and slice. However, little information about the physicochemical characteristics of Norwegian Fenalårs during the process or the safety implications of their elaboration procedures is reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to characterize the colour, texture and physicochemical properties of restructured Fenalårs when using Standard Salting (SS), Salt Reduced (SR) and a Non-Nitrite Salt Reduced (NNSR) treatments. Microbiological safety implications of the elaboration process when using the different salting treatments were also assessed using predictive microbiology. To do so, sixty Fenalårs were elaborated using a Standard Salting (SS), a Salt reduced (SR) and a Non-Nitrite Salt Reduced (NNSR) treatments. Physicochemical characterization (instrumental colour and texture and Zinc Protoporphyrin content) was performed at the end of the process using thirty Fenalårs. The rest of the Fenalårs were used to characterize the product through the elaboration process (pH and aw) for the evaluation of microbiological hazards when using the different salting treatments using predictive microbiology. Results showed a significant increase in softness when reducing salt content and a decrease of redness when no nitrite was used, attributed to the formation of ZnPP content instead of nitrosylmyoglobin. In terms of risk assessment, the decrease of aw through the elaboration process reduced the growth capacity of all the microorganisms evaluated. However, microbiological safety implications in salt reduced Fenalårs are important, especially when no nitrite was added, because the considerable increase of growth potential of L. monocytogenes. The increase of growth potential of proteolytic C. botulinum is very little and no relevant effect of nitrite on growth potential of S. aureus was observed. Predictive microbiology and optimization of the process to enhance ZnPP formation can help to ensure safety and quality of salt reduced restructured Fenalårs without additives.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Effects of different production systems on carcass and meat quality of sheep and lamb from Western Balkan and Norway

The identification of meat quality characteristics from selected breeds grazing in specific regions is particularly relevant to achieve a marketing advantage. Longisimus thoracis at lumborum (LTL) from the indigenous Western Balkan (WB) sheep - Vlašićka Pramenka (VP) sheep and lambs, and Pivska Pramenka (PP) sheep grazing in Bosnia & Herzegovina (B&H) and Montenegro (MN), respectively, was compared regarding carcass and meat qualities to the crossbred Norwegian white sheep (NWS) - sheep and lambs, grazing in wide Hardangervidda and Jotunheimen regions where the lamb meat is marketed as gourmet meat. The WB sheep had lower average carcass weights and antioxidant capacity, higher ultimate pH, intramuscular fat and n-6/n-3 ratio, but better tenderness and color stability compared to NWS. The WB lambs were lighter, had higher n-6/n-3 ratio, lower antioxidant capacity and became more easily rancid despite a higher fat α-tocopherol content. The marketing advantage of WB meat is its tenderness properties while NO's NWS lambs displayed a better nutritional profile

INDOOR RADON MEASUREMENTS BY NUCLEAR TRACK DETECTORS: APPLICATIONS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS UDC 53+504.055

Abstract. Indoor radon measurements by nuclear track detectors and application of the method in secondary schools in Serbia were performed in the spring 2004. Thirty detectors (type CR-39) were distributed to high school teachers in several cities in Serbia. After three months of the detectors exposure, they were sent back to the Low-Level Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Belgrade. After exposure, the CR-39 detectors were etched in a 6N NaOH at 70 0 C for 3 hours. The tracks were counted by the semiautomatic track-counting system. The preliminary results are presented in this paper. Key words: Radon, nuclear track detector

Composition and Potential Health Benefits of Pomegranate: A Review

Background: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruits are widely consumed and used as preventive and therapeutic agents since ancient times. Pomegranate is a rich source of a variety of phytochemicals, which are responsible for its strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory potential. Objective: The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date overview of the current knowledge of chemical structure and potential health benefits of pomegranate. Methods: A comprehensive search of available literature. Results: The review of the literature confirms that juice and extracts obtained from different parts of this plant, including fruit peel, seeds, and leaves exert health benefits in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antimicrobial and anti-tumour effects of pomegranate fruit are of particular scientific and clinical interest. Conclusion: Further investigations are required to clarify the mechanism of action of the bioactive ingredients and to reveal full potential of pomegranate as both preventive and therapeutic agent