Quality Of Camel Meat Research Articles

A One Health Perspective on Camel Meat Hygiene and Zoonoses: Insights from a Decade of Research in the Middle East.

The purpose of this review was to investigatethe microbial and chemical safety of camel meat and the zoonotic diseases associated with camels in the Middle East over the past decade, emphasizing the crucial role of a One Health approach. By systematically analyzing recent studies (in the past decade, from 2014), we assessed pathogen prevalence, contamination with heavy metals and pesticide residues, and the impact of zoonotic diseases like Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The findings revealed significant variability in pathogen prevalence, with the frequent detection of traditional foodborne pathogens (e.g., Salmonella and E. coli O157), as well as antibiotic-resistant strains like methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli, underscoring the need for stringent antibiotic use policies and robust food safety measures. Additionally, the review highlighted substantial contamination of camel meat with heavy metals and pesticide residues, posing significant public health concerns that necessitate stringent regulatory measures and regular monitoring. The persistent occurrence of zoonotic diseases, particularly MERS-CoV, along with other threats like trypanosomiasis, brucellosis, and Clostridium perfringens, emphasizes the importance of strengthening ongoing surveillance. Enhancing investment in diagnostic infrastructures, training programs, and planning capabilities is crucial to address these issues at the camel-human interface in the Middle East. Adopting a One Health perspective is vital to ensuring the safety and quality of camel meat and managing zoonotic risks effectively to ultimately safeguard public health and promote sustainable livestock practices.

Effect of salting time and drying method on physicochemical characteristics of dried meat from the longissimus muscle of Algerian dromedary camels

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of a cold brine (4 °C) pre-treatment on the quality of camel meat. The studied parameters are moisture content, macronutrient composition, color, pH, and shrinkage, before and after drying. Five groups of 108 camel meat slices with dimensions of 100 ×20 x 4 mm (length x width x thickness) were constituted. The control group (group 1) received no treatment. Groups 2 and 3 were immersed for 30 and 90 minutes respectively in a 19 % sodium chloride solution at 4 °C, then sun-dried. As for groups 4 and 5, they were treated in the same way for 30 and 90 minutes, but oven-dried at 65 °C. Results demonstrate that increasing the soaking time reduced the drying duration from 20 to 16 hours for oven drying and 14–12 hours for sun drying. Moisture content decreased from 73.94±0.31 % to 13.33±0.15 %, while protein levels decreased from 75.76±0.04 % to 74.465±0.02 % and 74.97±0.04 % for oven drying and 74.25±0.07 % to 74.51±0.01 % for sun drying after 30 and 90 minutes of soaking, respectively. A decrease in lipid content from 21.65±0.04 % to 19.10±0.06 % and 19.14±0.08 % was also observed during oven drying and 19.33±0.07 % to 19.12±0.09 % for sun drying. Sodium levels increased from 260.47±1.46 mg/100 g to 1690.36±1.94–1712.11±5.14 mg/100 g for oven drying and 1704.48±7.16 mg/100 g - 1714.89±4.18 mg/100 g for sun drying. Longer soaking times increased total color variation for both drying methods. By using cold brine, the nutrients in the muscle slices are preserved and the final product is lower in salinity.

The one-humped camel: The animal of future, potential alternative red meat, technological suitability and future perspectives

The 2020 world population data sheet indicates that world population is projected to increase from 7.8 billion in 2020 to 9.9 billion by 2050 (Increase of more than 25%). Due to the expected growth in human population, the demand for meats that could improve health status and provide therapeutic benefits is also projected to rise. The dromedary also known as the Arabian camel, or one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius), a pseudo ruminant adapted to arid climates, has physiological, biological and metabolic characteristics which give it a legendary reputation for surviving in the extreme conditions of desert environments considered restrictive for other ruminants. Camel meat is an ethnic food consumed across the arid regions of Middle East, North-East Africa, Australia and China. For these medicinal and nutritional benefits, camel meat can be a great option for sustainable meat worldwide supply. A considerable amount of literature has been published on technological aspects and quality properties of beef, lamb and pork but the information available on the technological aspects of the meat of the one humped camel is very limited. Camels are usually raised in less developed countries and their meat is as nutritionally good as any other traditional meat source. Its quality also depends on the breed, sex, age, breeding conditions and type of muscle consumed. A compilation of existing literature related to new technological advances in packaging, shelf-life and quality of camel meat has not been reviewed to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, this review attempts to explore the nutritional composition, health benefits of camel meat, as well as various technological and processing interventions to improve its quality and consumer acceptance. This review will be helpful for camel sector and highlight the potential for global marketability of camel meat and to generate value added products.

Effect of three different lairage times (0, 18 and 24 hours) on meat quality parameters in camels

Animal stress has frequently been linked to pre-slaughter operations, particularly the transportation and handling process. Therefore, it is assumed that an optimal lairage time before slaughter will exert positive effects on the animal's welfare and meat quality. However, the impact of this practice on camels is unknown. This study aimed to assess the influence of three lairage durations: 0 h (L0), 18 h (L18), and 24 h (L24) on the quality of camel meat. Ninety adult male camels aged 6 years were included in this study. Longissimus lumborum was sampled to analyze for muscle glycogen, muscle pH (45 min; 48 h), muscle temperature (45 min; 48 h), electrical conductivity (45 min; 48 h), drip loss (DL), cooking loss (CL), and thawing loss (TL). The L24 group had the lowest (p < 0.05) of muscle glycogen and the highest ultimate pH (48 h). Further, the L24 group had the lowest muscle temperature, electrical conductivity, drip loss, and thawing loss (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a lairage period of 24 h is recommended in the field conditions studied here for full recovery from stress response caused by the pre-slaughter process and for achieving better camel meat quality.

The one-humped camel: The animal of future, potential alternative red meat, technological suitability and future perspectives.

The 2020 world population data sheet indicates that world population is projected to increase from 7.8 billion in 2020 to 9.9 billion by 2050 (Increase of more than 25%). Due to the expected growth in human population, the demand for meats that could improve health status and provide therapeutic benefits is also projected to rise. The dromedary also known as the Arabian camel, or one-humped camel ( Camelus dromedarius), a pseudo ruminant adapted to arid climates, has physiological, biological and metabolic characteristics which give it a legendary reputation for surviving in the extreme conditions of desert environments considered restrictive for other ruminants. Camel meat is an ethnic food consumed across the arid regions of Middle East, North-East Africa, Australia and China. For these medicinal and nutritional benefits, camel meat can be a great option for sustainable meat worldwide supply. A considerable amount of literature has been published on technological aspects and quality properties of beef, lamb and pork but the information available on the technological aspects of the meat of the one humped camel is very limited. Camels are usually raised in less developed countries and their meat is as nutritionally good as any other traditional meat source. Its quality also depends on the breed, sex, age, breeding conditions and type of muscle consumed. A compilation of existing literature related to new technological advances in packaging, shelf-life and quality of camel meat has not been reviewed to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, this review attempts to explore the nutritional composition, health benefits of camel meat, as well as various technological and processing interventions to improve its quality and consumer acceptance. This review will be helpful for camel sector and highlight the potential for global marketability of camel meat and to generate value added products.

Exploring the impact of various cooking techniques on the physicochemical and quality characteristics of camel meat product.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of four different cooking techniques viz: boiling, grilling, microwave, and frying; on the physicochemical characteristics of camel meat. Protein composition and their degradation as well as biochemical and textural changes of camel meat as influenced by cooking methods were investigated. The highest cooking loss (52.61%) was reported in microwaved samples while grilled samples showed the lowest cooking loss (44.98%). The microwaved samples showed the highest levels of lipid oxidation as measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, while boiled samples showed the lowest levels (4.5 mg/kg). Protein solubility, total collagen, and soluble collagen content were highest in boiled samples. Boiled camel meat had lower hardness values compared to the other treated samples. Consequently, boiling was the more suitable cooking technique for producing camel meat with a reduced hardness value and lower lipid oxidation level. The camel meat industry and camel meat consumer can benefit from this research by improving their commercial viability and making consumers aware about the effects of cooking procedures on the quality of camel meat. The results of this study will be of significance to researchers and readers who are working on the processing and quality of camel meat.

Analysis of microbiological risks and effects of refrigeration on the evolution of the bacteriological and the physicochemical quality of camel meat from Bechar (South-Western Algeria)

Camel meat is widely consumed in the Bechar region which happens to be warm to hot, exceeding 50°C in summer; fact that probably affects its physicochemical and microbiological quality. This study aimed to assess the camel meat production chain upstream. A primary HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) study was conducted to detect the hazards, that were all related to the cold chain and refrigeration was the only mean used to preserve camel meat before marketing it raw. The kinetics of the physicochemical (temperature, pH, Total Dry Extract and humidity) and of the microbiological (Total Aerobic Mesophilic Flora, Coliforms, Staphylococci, Salmonella sp, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas sp, yeast and molds) parameters were then analyzed before and during cold storages, to study their limit over time. The results obtained showed that a temperature above the refrigeration temperature (+4 and +6°C) is likely to accelerate the microbial activity and to make the product unfit for consumption, a deterioration which resulted in a decrease in the rate of total dry extract (TDE) where the higher the temperature, the greater the loss of TDE, an alkalinization following proteolysis reactions with an increase in the humidity of the product. This study proved that the camel meat can meet national legislation for two weeks of storage at a temperature of up to 10°C. The evolution of the microbial and physicochemical parameters depends on several factors that should be strictly monitored, in particular the hygienic quality of the raw material, its handling and its storage conditions.

Best Precision–Recall Confidence Threshold and F-Measure to Determine Quality of Camel Meat by Support Vector Regression Based Electronic Nose

Abstract Maintaining fresh quality of camel meat and devising an effective validation instrument were the goals of this project. The minced samples were packed in bags with five different atmospheres and stored 20 days at 4 °C. Head space gas analysis and total viable count of bacteria were performed as references. Meat samples were tested with an electronic nose machine through dynamic sampling. Principal component analysis technique resulted in two distinct clusters in consistence with reference methods. Carbon dioxide was the best modified atmosphere to retain meat freshness. Support vector regression was trained with different confidence thresholds. The best precision–recall and F-measure values were obtained at threshold 0.5 that are promising to avoid false-positive and false-negative diagnoses which would be very crucial for regulatory decision-making organizations.

Microbiological safety and hygienic quality of camel meat at abattoir and retail houses in Jigjiga city, Ethiopia.

Camel meat is a relatively new, emerging meat type that may serve as sources of foodborne pathogens to the consumer. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the microbiological safety and quality of camel meat from an abattoir and retail houses in Jigjiga city, Ethiopia. A total of 140 camel carcass and retail meat samples (70 each) were examined for the presence and load of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157: H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp., aerobic bacteria, fecal coliforms (FCs), and yeast and molds (Y and Ms). Presumptive isolates were confirmed using biochemical tests. S. aureus and E. coli O157: H7 populations varied widely between carcasses at the abattoir and retail meat samples. S. aureus and E. coli O157:H7 were detected in 12.1 and 4.3% of the samples, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 counts were significantly higher in retail meat (4.21 ± 0.02) compared to the carcasses (3.99 ± 0.00) at the abattoir (P < 0.05). Out of 140 samples analyzed, 5% were positive for Campylobacter spp. The mean fecal coliforms, and yeast and molds counts were significantly higher in retail meat samples (6.17 ± 0.067 and 4.95 ± 0.067 log10 cfug-1, respectively). L. monocytogenes (11 cfug-1) were detected below the permissible limit (100 cfug-1). This study indicated that the further the process progress, the greater the risk of contamination to the product. Therefore, good hygienic practices at the abattoir and retail houses and strict slaughtering process should be prompted to enhance the overall safety and quality of camel meat.

Chemical composition and quality of camel meat

L. dorsi, Semitendinosus and Triceps brachii muscles from the camel had similar moisture, protein and fat content, but significantly (P < 0·05) different ash content. These muscles had also similar sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar protein concentrations. L. dorsi muscle had the highest content of collagen but a higher solubility of hydroxyproline than Semitendinosus and Triceps brachii muscles. It also had a brighter red colour. Water-holding capacity was not significantly different between the three muscles studied. Shear force and connective tissue strength were lowest in L. dorsi, intermediate in Semitendinosus and highest in Triceps brachii.