80 Effectiveness of naturally sourced mixed tocopherols as an antioxidant when compared to Bha and Bht in fresh pork sausage

Abstract

Abstract Fresh ground pork products are highly susceptible to deteriorative oxidation due to high fat content and increased surface area exposure of proteins. Recent trends and health concerns among consumers have sparked interest in finding alternatives for synthetic ingredients used for preservation of commercially manufactured processed meats. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of naturally sourced mixed tocopherols to a mixture of butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on prevention of lipid oxidation and color stability in fresh pork sausage patties. Duplicate batches of pork Boston butt trim and pork back fat were mixed 5:1, respectively, coarse ground, and combined with pork sausage seasoning. Pork mixture was then fine ground and 3175.5 g portions were assigned to one of three treatments: no antioxidants (CON), 0.01% of BHA and 0.01% BHT mixture (SYN), or 0.03% Decanox MTS30P (MTS). Patties (56.7 g) were hand pressed, placed on Styrofoam trays (S4), polyvinyl chloride film overwrapped and positioned in a retail display case. Patties (n = 45) were evaluated for instrumental color (L*, a*, and b*) and display discoloration (1 = very bright, to 8 = tan to brown) in 12-hr intervals for 252 hr. Fifteen patties from each treatment were collected for thiobarbituric acid reactive substance analysis. No differences between treatments (P > 0.05) were found for display discoloration or instrumental color. SYN patties had significantly lower malondialdehyde values (P = 0.047) than both CON and MTS patties at 252 hr. In conclusion, mixed tocopherols were not as effective as synthetic antioxidants in slowing lipid oxidation. However, it can be noted that mixed tocopherols can replace synthetic antioxidants in ground pork sausage and have the same effect on color stability.