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The sensory analysis of new products is essential for subsequent acceptance by consumers, moreover in the functional food market. The acceptance and food neophobia of cooked sausages formulated with cactus pear fiber or pineapple pear fiber, as functional ingredient, was complemented with a sensory characterization by R-index and qualitative descriptive analysis (QDA). Female consumers aged between 40 and 50 years showed greater interest in the consumption of healthy foods, with a higher level of food neophobia towards pineapple fiber sausages. R-index for taste was higher in pineapple fiber samples. Cactus pear fiber samples presented higher R-index score for texture. In QDA, color, sweet, astringent and bitter flavors, pork meat smell and a firm and plastic texture were significant, with a good relationship (38%) between the evaluated attributes. Sensory attributes are important on the acceptance and neophobia of functional foods like cooked sausages with fruit peel fiber as functional ingredient.

Four thermotolerant lactic acid bacteria strains (UAM15c, UAM10a, UAM17, UAM18) were inoculated in two cooked sausage formulations (one full fat and sodium and one fat-sodium reduced). Total moisture content, expressible moisture and cooking stability, pH and CIE-Lab color, and texture were evaluated during 15 days of storage at 4°C. Inoculation improved cooking stability and reduced water release in both formulations, resulting as well in lighter and less red and yellow coloration. Inoculation of thermotolerant lactic acid bacteria resulted in less hard and more cohesive texture. Microscopy showed that P. acidilacti UAM15c and L. plantarum UAM10a secreted exopolysaccharides probably related to high moisture stability and better textural properties, as compared with non-inoculated samples.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are employed in meat products preservation and fermentation. Some strains can survive thermal treatment in cooked meat products, where their bioprotective properties can be used to inhibiting other spoilage flora. A total of 68 presumptive LAB were isolated from commercial cooked sausages collected in Mexico City supermarkets. Based on biochemical tests, 22 strains were selected and their thermotolerant capacity and DT values were determined in water baths. Only 10 strains were considered as thermotolerant after survive thermal treatments (70C at 30 min). Thermotolerant strains were identified by both phenotypic (API system) and genotypic (16S rRNA) analysis. The genera identified were Pediococcus, Lactobacillus, Aerococcus and Enterococcus. Differences in phenotypic and genotypic in some strains were found, because of a close phylogenetic proximity between the strains. Nonetheless, all the identified thermotolerant LAB strains are natural microflora of meat products and can be employed as bioprotective strains inoculating them before thermal processing in cooked meat products. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The isolation and identification of LAB strains as the native and dominant flora of meat and meat products could be useful in the looking of bacteria as bioprotective cultures, as LAB inhibit other spoilage and pathogen microorganisms. Thermotolerant capacity of these LAB isolated from cooked meat products is important as the application of these strains as starters during processing before thermal treatment ensures their role as dominant flora during storage. In addition, the potential probiotic of these thermotolerant LAB strains can be useful in functional cooked meat products manufacture.

Instrumental texture characteristics of low-fat, reduced-sodium meat batters formulated with other salts (KCl and MgCl 2 or CaCl 2 ) with gellan gum were evaluated. Fat and sodium reduction through incorporation of gellan gum and either of the dicationic salts produced less rigid, more ductile structures. Inclusion of magnesium chloride resulted in better performance, whereas addition of calcium chloride resulted in less desirable properties. The dicationic salts level used probably inhibited the gellan gum thermoreversible properties, affecting its water holding properties. Microstructural differences between the dicationic salt treatments were apparently due to the effect of dicationic salt concentration on myofibrillar protein extraction and solubilization, and gellan gum gelation properties. Use of magnesium chloride in tandem with gellan gum in the studied low-fat, reduced-sodium meat batters effectively compensated for the structural differences caused by fat and sodium reduction.