R: Concise Reviews/Hypotheses in Food Science

Meat Products as Functional Foods: A Review

J OSE M. FERNNDEZ-GINS, JUANA FERNNDEZ-LP
EZ, ESTRELL
A SAYAS-BARBER, AND JOSE.A. PREZ-ALVAREZ
PEZ
STRELLA

ABSTRA
CT
umer
ous studies hav
e sought to demonstr
ate the possibility of changing the image of meat and
ABSTRACT
CT:: N
Numer
umerous
have
demonstrate
meat products from the traditionally accepted image to one of healthy living thanks to the addition (vegetables,
extracts, fibers, and so forth), elimination (fats), and reduction (additives) of different ingredients. This article
presents a revision of studies published in recent years on the topic and looks at possible future trends in the
e occurr
ed in the tr
aditional meat industr
y as global for
ces in the agr
osector
occurred
traditional
industry
forces
agrosector,, analyzing the changes that hav
have
food industry direct it more and more to the design and production of functional foods.
Keywords: meat products, functional foods, functional ingredients

Introduction

he trend toward functional foods has led to the publication of

several articles describing studies of the effects of including 1
or more ingredients with functional properties in various types of
food, within which meat and meat products deserve special attention. The object of including functional ingredients in the case of
meat is not only concerned with providing it with certain desirable
properties but also an attempt to change its image in these healthconscious days.
The meat industry is 1 of the most important in the world and,
whether as a result of consumer demand or because of the ferocious
competition in the industry, research into new products is continuous. However, such research and the launch of new products is directed at providing healthy alternatives to what has frequently been
accused of causing a variety of pathologies ( Jimnez-Colmenero
2000). This unfortunate image derives mainly from the content of fat,
saturated fatty acids, and cholesterol and their association with cardiovascular diseases, some types of cancer, obesity, and so forth.
Regarding obesity, it is very important to understand how meat
or meat products affects biological and physiological mechanisms
of appetite, satiety, and long-term behavior. Meat and meat products show highly satiating characteristics and, in this respect, functional foods could be a food-related solution because these types
of products could be designed to be less calorifically dense and
while remaining more highly satiating and tasty. In this way, the
food industry in general, the meat and related products industry in
particular, could contribute to making lives easier and more active.
Meat is associated with cholesterol, and although it is now accepted that the dietary intake of cholesterol has little bearing on
plasma cholesterol, for consumers this is another negative influence
on meats health image (Higgs 2000).
In some cases, the consumer is confused by multiple messages
from multiple sources, public skepticism about expert opinion, the
public misunderstanding of reports on scientific findings and results, increased media coverage accompanied by recommendations for corporate marketing strategies and health claims, and
competing real-life and lifestyle demands. Furthermore, food packaging could also have a very important influence on food intake
(MacAulay and Newsome 2004).

MS 20040498 Submitted 7/26/04, Revised 8/30/04, Accepted 9/10/04. The

authors are with Dept. de Tecnologa Agroalimentaria, Escuela Politcnica
Superior de Orihuela, Univ. Miguel Hernndez, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain.
Direct inquiries to author Fernndez Lpez (E-mail: [email protected]).

2005 Institute of Food Technologists

Further reproduction without permission is prohibited

The underlying idea behind functional food is to reduce the

prevalence of chronic diseases by curbing the consumption of habitually consumed foods. The formulation of foods according to the
beneficial effects that their non-nutritional ingredients may have
for the consumer has become an area of great interest for large food
companies, including the meat sector (Vasconcellos 2001).
Although there is no exact definition of what a functional food is
and many consider that it is a concept still under development,
among the most widely accepted definition from a European point
of view is that mentioned by Robertfroid (Pascal and Collet-Ribbing 1998), namely that a food may be considered functional if it
contains a component (be it nutrient or not) with a selective effect
on one or various functions of the organism, whose positive effects
justify that it can be regarded as functional (physiological) or even
healthy. A food can be regarded as functional if it is satisfactorily
demonstrated to beneficially affect 1 or more target functions in
the body, beyond adequate nutritional effects, in a way that is relevant to either improved health or well-being and/or to a reduction
in the risk of disease. A functional food must remain food and it
must demonstrate its effects in amounts that can normally be expected to be consumed in the diet: it is not a pill or a capsule, but
part of the normal food pattern (Dipplock and others 1999). European consumers are more critical and less unconditional than
Americans with this type of product because Europeans have recently suffered a sequence of food safety scares (BSE, foot-andmouth disease, and so forth). Also, among countries, perception is
very different; for example in Denmark, consumers are very suspicious of functional foods, which they judge as unnatural and impure ( Jonas and Beckmann 1998).
As far as meat is concerned, the modifications to which it may be
subjected to confer functional properties on it are based on modifications to the feed an animal receives or on postmortem manipulation of the carcass. By the 1st means, the lipid, fatty acid, and
vitamin E content can be modified, whereas by the 2nd, fat can be
removed by mechanical processes. Regarding meat products, efforts are mainly directed toward their reformulation by modifying
the lipid and fatty acid content, and/or by adding a series of functional ingredients (fiber, vegetal proteins, monounsaturated or
polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, calcium, phytochemicals,
and so forth) (Jimenez-Colmenero and others 2001). Meat and meat
products are essential for a balanced diet, although it must also be
remembered that they are susceptible to modifications to give
them a healthier appearance.
The object of this article is to evaluate the effect of adding funcVol. 70, Nr. 2, 2005JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE R37
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Functional meat products . . .

tional ingredients on the physical, chemical, and sensory characteristics of foods, especially meat and its related products, as understood from recently published scientific articles (Table 1).

Functional modifications in meat and meat products

Meat and meat products are essential in the diet of developed
countries. Their principal components, besides water, are proteins
and fats, with a substantial contribution of vitamins and minerals
of a high degree of bioavailability. Both meat and its associated
products can be modified by adding ingredients considered beneficial for health or by eliminating or reducing components that are
considered harmful. In this way, a series of foods can be obtained
which, without altering their base, are considered healthy.

Modification of the fatty acid

and cholesterol levels in meat
Meat is in a major source of fat in the diet, especially of saturated
fatty acids (SFA), which have been implicated in diseases associated
with modern life, especially in developed countries. The ratio of n6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is also a risk factor in cancers and coronary heart disease, especially the formation of blood
clots leading to a heart attack.
Levels of n-3 PUFA in pigs fed a linseed diet produced higher
levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) after conditioning for 10 d followed by simulated retail display for a further
7 d, although the display period had no impact on the sensorial
characteristics such as muscle color (saturation) (Wood and others
2003).
The selection of breeds and genetic lines within breeds, changes
in animal feeding practices, including some feed additives (probiotics, antibiotics, and so forth), and intervention in animal metabolism (anabolic implants, -agonist, growth hormone, etc.) are the
main tools used to achieve a reduction in carcass fat content (Chizzolini and others 1999), although many such practices are not authorized in the European Union.
When Velasco and others (2004) compared unweaned lambs and
lambs weaned at 40 d of age, fattened at pasture and slaughtered
at 28 kg live weight, to observe the effect on meat quality and fatty acid composition, the weaning status was seen to affect the fatness and quality characteristics of the meat (of lambs raised at
pasture) more than the type of feed. A further decrease in the intramuscular fat content would decrease meat quality attributes, especially juiciness and flavor, which are already impaired in some cases
(Chizzolini and others 1999). Variations in fatty acid composition
have an important effect on firmness or softness of the fat in meat,
especially the subcutaneous and intermuscular (carcass) fats but
also the intramuscular (marbling) fat.
The effect of fatty acids on meat shelf life is explained by the
propensity of unsaturated fatty acids to oxidise, leading to the
development of rancidity as display times increases. Changes in
fatty acid composition have not been directly linked to changes in
myoglobin oxidation and muscle color in many of the pork meat
studies reported (Wood and others 2003). In studies of rabbit meat,
Dal Bosco and others (2004), confirmed that meat enrichment in n3 PUFA did not cause any increase in the oxidation level. The -linolenic acidvitamin E diet favored the accumulation of longchain polyunsaturated n-3 in the meat and improved its oxidative
stability and consequently its nutritional value. Enser and others
(2000), in studies about feeding linseed to increase the n-3 PUFA in
pork meat, confirmed the potential of pig meat to supply valuable
n-3 PUFA to the human diet, finding that it may be readily manipulated to increase the concentrations.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been recognized as having
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JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCEVol. 70, Nr. 2, 2005

anticarcinogenic and antioxidative properties in several animal

models. Hur and others (2004) reported that the concentration of
CLA was significantly increased by the substitution of fat. Storage
for 14 d had little effect on the CLA concentration in beef patties.
Substituted CLA sources for fat improved the color stability possibly by inhibition of lipid oxidation and oxymioglobin oxidation.

Addition of vegetal oils to meat products

Olive oil is the most monounsaturated vegetable oil. It has a
high biological value, and its consumption is related to a decreased
risk of heart disease and breast cancer (Pappa and others 2000).
Vegetable oils have also been used as partial substitutes of pork
backfat in low-fat frankfurters and other types of cooked product
giving rise to products with more adequate fatty acid profiles and
cholesterol levels than traditional ones (Muguerza and others 2001).
Studies of Pappa and others (2000) concerning the use of olive
oil to replace (0% to 100%) pork backfat for the production of low-fat
frankfurters, showed that the higher levels of olive oil had the lowest overall acceptability, although color attributes were unaffected.
Muguerza and others (2001) manufactured traditional Spanish
sausage, replacing 0% to 30% of pork backfat by pre-emulsified
olive oil. The oleic and linoleic acid levels increased and the cholesterol content was reduced, while the sensorial characteristics, (texture and color) were comparable with those of commercial products. The results pointed to the possibility of replacing pork
backfat with olive oil (up to 25%) to increase the nutritional status.
Ansorena and Astiasarn (2004a) reported that the addition of
olive oil to sausages was more effective than using vacuum-storing
methods in avoiding lipid oxidation during storage and also increased the monounsaturated fatty acids fraction (MUFA).
Other studies (Muguerza and others 2002) on fermented sausages found that the replacement of 20% pork backfat with olive oil
does not affect the weight losses and makes the sausages lighter in
color and more yellow. The product has an acceptable odor and
taste but unacceptable appearance because of the intensively
wrinkled surfaces and the development of casing hardening. The
same authors (Muguerza and others 2003b) found that the replacement of 20% pork backfat by olive oil in high and reduced fat
Greek sausages led to significant decrease in the oxidation process
and significantly increased the MUFA content.
In their studies into salami products, Severini and others
(2003) found that the partial substitution of pork backfat by extra
virgin olive oil did not substantially affect the chemical, physical,
and sensory characteristics of the products, with the exception of
water activity and firmness. The addition of the extra virgin olive oil,
which is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, did not reduce the shelf life
in terms of lipid oxidation, probably due to the antioxidant effect of
both polyphenols and tocopherols. Sensory analyses did not point
to differences from the traditional formulation.
An alternative to using this vegetable oil, which has a high unsaturated fatty acid content and is liquid at room temperature, is to
use interesterified vegetable oils (IVOs). These oils can be used as
a fat replacer to modify the fatty acid composition of frankfurters
and Turkish type salami without any detrimental changes in sensory characteristics. Vural and others (2004) produced frankfurters
with IVOs prepared from palm, cottonseed, and olive oils and found
that replacing beef fat (10%) with IVOs (60% to 100%) led to a significant increase in the oleic and linoleic acid content and the PUFA:
SFA ratio without any change in appearance, color, texture, flavor,
or other sensory characteristics.
Other studies have described the addition of high oleic sunflower oil to low-fat frankfurters as a source of monounsaturated fat.
Yilmaz and others (2002) found that the resulting product was
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healthier due the higher contents of unsaturated and essential

fatty acids, without any negative sensory characteristics.
Linseed oil is another source of fat. Ansorena and Astiasarn
(2004b) found that the substitution of pork backfat with linseed oil
in the manufacture of dry-fermented sausages decreased the n6:n-3 ratio (from 14.1 to 2.1) as a consequence of the increase in linolenic acid. These authors affirmed that this had a relevant influence on the nutritional quality of the products, without
substantially modifying the flavor or oxidation.

Addition of soy
Plant-derived proteins from soybeans have been used in traditional comminuted meat products (30% fat) as meat replacements.
Soy proteins (flours, concentrates, and isolates) are more commonly
used in processed meat products for their functional properties and
relatively low cost compared with lean meat (Chin and others 1999).
Soy proteins have been incorporated in these products for their water-binding and fat-binding ability, enhancement of emulsion stability, and increased yields (Chin and others 2000).
Soya protein lowers blood lipid levels compared with animal
protein. In 1999, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved
a health claim that diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that
include 25 g soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease (Sadler 2004). Intact soy (with isoflavones) has a greater effect
on reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol
concentrations than extracted soy.
Soy isoflavones include compounds such as daidzin, genistin,
daidzein, and genistein. However, it has recently been recognized
that the isoflavones contained in vegetable proteins may have a
detrimental impact on mammals that consume the vegetable protein.
Soy oil also contains approximately 0.2 g plant sterols per 100 g.
Plant sterols and plant stanols are associated with lowering plasma
LDL cholesterol at intakes of 2 to 3 g/d (Ferrari and Torres 2003;
Sadler 2004). Soy has been described as being useful in the prevention and treatment of cancer, osteoporosis, and in the relief of
menopausal symptoms ( Jimnez-Colmenero and others 2001;
Halsted 2003).
Some researches have studied the use of soy derivates in meat
products. Porcella and others (2001) studied the addition of Soy
protein isolates (SPI) (2.5%) to chorizo raw sausage and found that
it prevented drip loss of vacuum-packaged chorizos during refrigerated storage and did not affect the organoleptic and microbiological properties during shelf life of 14 d.
Soy protein isolate has been added in low-fat bologna, too. Chin
and others (2000) characterized this product and concluded that
SPI (2%) can be incorporated as fat replacer without any detrimental physicochemical and textural characteristics being noted in the
product, except for color values. The addition of SPI did not seem to
change the ultrastructure of the meat protein gel matrix, and no interactions were noted with meat proteins. In other studies by the
same authors (Chin and others 1999), 4.4% SPI resulted in a softer
texture of low-fat bologna and did not affect the another chemical
parameters.
Feng and others (2003) incorporated thermally/enzymatically
obtained soy protein isolates (2%) in pork frankfurters. They concluded that heat and enzyme-hydrolyzed soy proteins affected
texture properties differently, the 1st improving hardness and 2nd
reducing hardness, cohesiveness, and breaking strength.
The replacement of pork backfat with soy oil has also been studied. Muguerza and others (2003a) reported that the addition of soy
oil did not modify the percentage of water or protein and the pH in
fermented sausages. With the addition of pre-emulsified soy oil,
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cholesterol hardly decreased and oxidation was not modified. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids decreased, and polyunsatutared increased due the significant increase in linoleic and linolenic acids. In the texture profile analyses, the sensory analysis
and color did not show significant differences from commercial
products.
Another product, soy protein concentrate mixed with -carrageenan (0% to 3%), was investigated in comminuted scalded sausage
(Pietrasik and Duda 2000). The addition favorably affected the water-holding capacity and thermal stability of the processed sausages
regardless of the fat content. It did not improve the textural parameters, and no significant influence on color parameters was observed.

Addition of natural extracts

with antioxidant properties
Lipid oxidation is one of the causes for the deterioration of meat
and derivatives because their appearance determines the onset of
a large number of undesirable changes in flavor, texture, and nutritional value (Gil and others 2001). The rate of lipid oxidation can be
effectively retarded by the use of antioxidants. Synthetic antioxidants were widely used in the meat industry, but consumer concerns over safety and toxicity pressed the food industry to find
natural sources (Coronado and others 2002). Natural antioxidants
extracted from plants such as rosemary, sage, tea, soybean, citrus
peel, sesame seed, olives, carob pod, and grapes can be used as
alternatives to the synthetic antioxidants because of their equivalent or greater effect on the inhibition of lipid oxidation (Tang and
others 2001). The human intake of green tea decreases total cholesterol, increases the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction, and
decreases lipoprotein oxidation (Tang and others 2001; Ferrari and
Torres 2003).
The addition of tea catechins to cooked red meat and poultry was
studied by Tang and others (2001), who found that addition at 300
mg/kg minced muscle significantly inhibited the pro-oxidative effect
of NaCl and controlled lipid oxidation in cooked muscle patties. The
high affinity of tea catechins for lipid bilayers of muscle and their
radical scavenging abilities may provide a possible mechanism to
explain the inhibition of lipid oxidation in cooked muscle food.
The functional properties of raw and cooked pork patties with
added irradiated green tea leaf extract was studied by Jo and others
(2003). This extract did not have negative effects on the physical
and sensory properties and had beneficial biochemical properties;
the researchers concluded that irradiated green tea extract powder
can be used to add functional properties to pork patties.
Jo and others (2003) added irradiated, freeze-dried green tea to
cooked pork patties. The results show that this ingredient had no
negative effects on the physical and sensory properties. Lipid oxidation was lower and showed less cooking loss. Also, the patties with
added green tea leaf extract had beneficial biochemical properties.
Another extract used in meat products is rosemary, from whose
leaves a large number of phenolic compounds with antioxidant
activities have been isolated. These include carnosol, carnosic acid,
rosmanol, epirosmanol, isorosmanol, rosmarinic acid, rosmaridiphenol, and rosmariquinone (Gil and others 2001; Fernndez-Lpez and others 2003). Coronado and others (2002) manufactured
wiener sausages with this extract, and no lipid oxidation was observed in the product during long-term frozen storage. Wieners
containing rosemary appeared to have slower rates of oxidation
than those without antioxidant.

Sodium chloride control

Due to the role of sodium in the development of hypertension in
sodium-sensitive individuals, public health and regulatory authorVol. 70, Nr. 2, 2005JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE

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ities have recommended a reduced dietary intake of sodium
choride. However, intake still exceeds the nutritional recommendations in many countries (Ruusunen 2003a).
The main source of sodium chloride in meat products is salt
(NaCl), and its reduction in meat products is an important goal for
decreasing overall dietary sodium. Because salt contributes to water and fat binding in meat products, its reduction has an adverse
effect on these parameters increasing cooking loss and weakening
the texture (Ruusunen 2003a, 2003b).
Although meat as such is relatively poor in sodium, containing
only 50 to 90 mg of sodium per 100 g, the sodium content of meat
derivatives is much higher because of the salt content, which may
reach 2% in heat-treated products and as much as 6% in uncooked
cured products, in which drying (loss of moisture) increases the
proportion even further. Estimates taking eating habits into account suggest that approximately 20% to 30% of common salt intake
comes from meat and meat derivatives (Jimnez-Colmenero and
others 2001).
Ruusunen and others (2003a) described the physical and sensory properties of low-salt phosphate-free frankfurters and concluded that when the frankfurters were made without phosphate, additional nonmeat ingredients (modified tapioca starch, sodium
citrate, and wheat bran) were needed when the salt contents was
below 1.5%. Salt directly affects frying loss, water and fat binding,
firmness, saltiness, and flavor intensity.
In other research, Ruusunen and others (2003b) evaluated the
quality characteristics of low-salt bologna-type sausage manufactured with sodium citrate, carboxymethyl cellulose, and carrageenan. The results show that in low-salt sausages containing less than
1.4% NaCl, the use of these ingredients decreased frying loss and
increased saltiness, but the conclusion was that in low-salt sausages, no additive alone is recommended. In the same study, salt affected frying loss, firmness, saltiness, juiciness, and flavor intensity.
Gimeno and others (2001) studied calcium ascorbate as a potential partial substitute for NaCl in dry-fermented sausages, in which
substitution caused higher acidification as a result of greater lactic
acid bacteria development, probably due to the presence of calcium. Partial replacement of NaCl by calcium ascorbate seems to be
a viable way of decreasing sodium in dry-fermented sausages. It
would imply enrichment in ascorbate and calcium with advantages
from the nutritional point of view. The salt reduction affects L*, a*,
and b* CIELAB coordinates (Commission Internationale de
lEclariage) and also affects hardness, gumminess, and chewiness.

Addition of fish oils

Oils in the form of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids occur mainly
in cold water fish, whereas n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids come
mainly from plants and saturated fatty acids from animal sources.
Diets in which cold water fish such as mackerel (Scomber scombrus),
salmon (Salmo salar), halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), and trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) are the main staple are associated with reduced incidence of coronary heart disease but an increased risk of
hemorrhage (Halsted 2003).
Epidemiological, clinical, and biochemical studies have provided a great deal of evidence about the protective effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids against some common cancers such as
breast and colon cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel
diseases, and cardiovascular diseases (Hoz and others 2004). Levels
of dietary fish oil and dietary antioxidant significantly influence the
n-3 fatty acid and cholesterol content of meat lipids (Jeun-Horng
and others 2002).
In the studies of Jeun-Horng and others (2002) about the addition of fish oil (2% to 4%) to the diet of chickens used to make chickR40

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCEVol. 70, Nr. 2, 2005

en frankfurters, no significant differences were found in pH, cooking yield and moisture, fat, protein, ash and cholesterol contents,
and sensory quality. These frankfurters had higher contents of
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), but
a lower content of n-6 fatty acids.
Hoz and others (2004) manufactured salchichon using backfat
and meat enriched in polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids and -tocopherol, concludeing that it is possible to manufacture dry-fermented sausages enriched in n-3 PUFAs without adverse effects on
its composition, lipid stability, textural, and sensory properties.

Addition of vegetal products

Vegetables are the main ingredient of a range of meat-free dishes
and convenience products such as vegetable burgers, vegetablebased sausages, vegetable grills, and ready meals. The attributes
of vegetables include high fiber, low fat, and low energy density.
Particular types of vegetables can also be a good source of vitamins
including vitamin C, folic acid, other B vitamins, vitamins E and K,
potassium, dietary antioxidants such as carotenoids and flavonoids, and a range of other potentially beneficial phytochemicals.
Protein derivatives of vegetable origin have been used in meat
products for technological purposes to reduce formulation costs,
and they have even been used for their nutritional value (Jimnez-Colmenero and others 2001). The use of wheat protein as a meat
alternative is a relatively recent development. Wheat protein is
essentially made from gluten that has been processed and extruded to resemble the texture of meat (Sadler 2004).
Modi and others (2003) studied the effect of adding different
decorticated legume flours to buffalo meat burgers and showed
that the inclusion of roasted black gram flour led to lower thiobarbituric acid values before frying and found the burger organoleptically acceptable even after storage at 16 2 C for 4 mo.
Nuts provide high levels of protein. Several studies have demonstrated an inverse association between nut consumption and the risk
of cardiovascular diseases (CHD). Although nuts are high in fat, they
contain a high proportion of unsaturated fats, including monounsaturated fats, which can contribute a cholesterol-lowering effect when
used to replace dietary fatty acids and/or carbohydrate. Walnuts,
peanuts, and almonds are also a source of -linolenic acid, as are
mycoprotein and soya oil. Nuts also contain dietary fiber and various
bioactive compounds such as plant sterols, which have cholesterollowering properties (Halsted 2003; Sadler 2004).
The addition of walnuts to restructured beef steak was studied
by Jimenez-Colmenero and others (2003). The results showed that
the addition of walnuts affects the cooking properties, color, texture,
and sensory attributes, making the product softer and providing it
with better water-binding properties. Product morphology studies
suggested that walnut interferes with the formation of protein network structures.

Addition of fiber
Epidemiological research has demonstrated a relationship between a diet containing an excess of energy-dense foods rich in fats
and sugar and the emergence of a range of chronic diseases, including colon cancer, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and several
other disorders (Best 1991; Kaefersteins and Clugston 1995; Beecher 1999) and, thus, an increase in the level of dietary fiber in the
daily diet has been recommended (Eastwood 1992; Johnson and
Southgate 1994). The presence of fiber in foods produces a diminution in their caloric content.
Fiber is suitable for addition to meat products and has previously been used in cooked meat products to increase the cooking yield
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due to its water-binding and fat-binding properties and to improve

texture (Cofrades and others 2000). Various types of fiber have been
studied alone or combined with other ingredients for formulations
of reduced-fat meat products, largely ground and restructured
products (Desmond and others 1998; Mansour and Khalil 1999),
and meat emulsions (Claus and Hunt 1991; Chang and Carpenter
1997; Grigelmo-Miguel and others 1999).
In studies by Yilmaz (2004), rye bran was used as a fat substitute
in the production of meatballs. Rye consumption has been reported
to inhibit breast and colon tumor growth in animal models, to lower
glucose response in diabetics, and to lower the risk of death from
coronary heart disease. The addition of rye bran to meatballs at the
levels assayed (5% to 20%) improved their nutritional value and
health benefits. The total trans fatty acid content was lower and the
ratio of total unsaturated fatty acids to total saturated fatty acids was
higher in the samples with added rye bran. The same samples were
lighter and yellower than the control samples. The authors concluded that this type of fiber can be used as dietary fiber source.
Another source of fiber is oat. Many of the characteristics of oat
fiber such as its water-absorption capacity could potentially benefit
products such as fat-free frankfurters and low-fat bologna. Oat
products have also achieved a very positive consumer image because of the health benefits that have been associated with their
consumption. Oat was added by Steenblock and others (2001) to
determine the effects on the quality characteristics of light bologna
and fat-free frankfurters. Different types of oat fiber were used,
high absorption (HA) or bleached oat (BL) fiber at levels up to 3%.
The results indicated that the addition of both types of oat fiber
produced greater yields and a lighter red color. Purge was reduced
with oat fiber at 3%. Product hardness increased for bologna. It has
been reported that oat bran and oat fiber provide the flavor, texture, and mouthfeel of fat in ground beef and pork sausages
(Garca and others 2002).
The components of dietary fiber include fructooligosaccharides
(FOS), a generic name for all nondigestible oligosaccharides composed mainly of fructose. The effect of a short-chain FOS on cooked
sausages was studied by Cceres and others (2004). The addition
did not affect the pH, aw or weight losses because the presence of
soluble dietary fiber (SDF) leads to a compact gel structure and
therefore prevents proteins from retaining the water. The energy
values decreased from 279 kcal/100 g in the conventional control to
187 kcal/100 g in the reduced-fat sausages with 12% added fiber at
12% SDF. The hardness of the samples with SDF was lower, and the
overall acceptability in the sensory analysis was higher in samples
with 12% SDF.
Another SDF is inulin, which can be used as a fat substitute
mainly in nonmeat foods (cakes, chocolates, dairy products,
spreads) because of its contributions to better mouthfeel, enhanced flavor, and low-caloric value (1.0 kcal/g). Mendoza and others (2001) prepared low-fat, dry-fermented sausages with a fat content close to 50 and 25% of the original amount and supplemented
with 7.5 and 12.5% of inulin. The results indicate that inulin impacts
a softer texture and a tenderness, springiness, and adhesiveness
very similar to that of conventional sausages. A low-calorie product
(30% of the original) can be obtained with approximately 10% inulin.
Epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of
fruits and vegetables imparts health benefits, for example, reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and certain types of
cancer. Apart from the dietary fiber, fruits and vegetables contain
health benefits that are mainly attributed to organic micronutrients
such as carotenoids, polyphenolics, tocopherols, vitamin C, and
others (Schieber and others 2001).
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Inner pea fiber was identified as an ingredient capable of retaining high fat and water in ground beef. Inner pea fiber is manufactured from the inner cell walls of yellow field peas and contains
approximately 48% fiber, 44% starch, and 7% protein. This fiber
may improve the sensory properties of lower fat ground beef by
retaining substantial amounts of both the moisture and fat that are
normally lost during cooking. This source was added in a dry form
by Anderson and Berry (2000) to lower-fat beef patties (10% and
14%), in which it improved tenderness and cooking yield without
having negative effects on juiciness and flavor.
Another important source of fiber is fruits, which can also be obtained as by-products of plant food processing. Citrus byproducts
(lemon albedo and orange fiber powder) have been added, at different concentrations, to cooked and dry-cured sausages with excellent results (Aleson-Carbonell and others 2003, 2004; Fernndez-Gins and others 2003, 2004; Fernndez-Lpez and others 2004).
Lemon albedo was added at different concentration (2.5% to
10%) to cooked sausages (Fernndez-Gins and others 2004) and
dry-cured sausages (Aleson-Carbonell and others 2003, 2004). The
addition of lemon albedo to both sausages had healthy effects due
to the presence of active biocompounds, which induced a decrease
in residual nitrite levels. Sausages with 2.5% to 7.5% lemon albedo
added had sensory properties similar to conventional sausages.
Orange fiber powder was added at different concentrations
(0.5% to 2%) to cooked sausages (bolognas). The results showed
that the addition improved the nutritional value, decreased the
residual nitrite level, and delayed the oxidation process as determined by TBA values and the red color. Citrus fiber at all concentrations made the products harder and less springy and chewy. All the
samples had a similarly good score in the sensory analysis, except
the sample with 2% citrus fiber (Fernndez-Gins and others 2003).
Garca and others (2002) studied the effect of adding cereal and
fruit fibers on the sensory properties of reduced-fat, dry-fermented
sausages. The cereal (wheat and oat) and fruit (peach, apple, and
orange) dietary fibers were added at 1.5% and 3% concentrations.
The addition of dietary fiber from cereals and fruits at 1.5% resulted
in sausages with a final fiber content, after ripening, of about 2%,
which represents an improvement in their nutritional properties
and provides an acceptable sensory profile. Higher amounts of fiber
(3%) increased the hardness, resulting in products with a lower
sensory quality. The best results in this study were obtained with
sausages containing 10% pork backfat and 1.5% fruit fiber. The orange fiber provides the best results with sensory properties similar
to those of conventional sausage.

Conclusions

eat and meat products can be modified by adding ingredi

ents considered beneficial for health or by eliminating or reducing components that are considered harmful. The use of these
ingredients in meat products offers processors the opportunity to
improve the nutritional and health qualities of their products. But
sometimes (above all when these ingredients are added at high
concentrations) their use results in products with lower sensory and
physicochemical quality. The results suggest that many ingredients
can be used in the meat industry to add functional properties to
meat products, and further research is needed to understand their
interactions with meat products constituents and thus to improve
their safety in potential industrial applications.

Acknowledgments
The financial support by the Spanish Conselleria de Cultura, Educacin y Deporte (Generalitat Valenciana) through the Project
GV04B-679 is gratefully acknowledged.
Vol. 70, Nr. 2, 2005JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE

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Functional meat products . . .

R: Concise Reviews in Food Science

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Table 1
1Recent articles about meat and meat products with functional ingredients
Meat product
Dry-fermented
sausages

Cooked meat
products

Fresh meat
products

R42

Type of ingredient

Impact on product

Reference

Calcium ascorbate

Decrease sodium supply

Gimeno and others 2001

Cereal and fruit fibers

Increase fiber levels

Garca and others 2002

Extra-virgin olive oil

Did not affect on chemical, physical, and

sensory characteristics. Did not reduce
lipid oxidation

Severini and others 2003

Inulin

Softer texture, tenderness, springiness, and

adhesiveness. Improved nutritional properties

Mendoza and others 2001

Linseed oil

Improved nutritional quality without substantially modifying flavor and oxidation status

Ansorena and Astiasarn 2004b

Olive oil

Reduced cholesterol and increased MUFA

and PUFA fractions. Lighter and more
yellow sausages. Reduced oxidation

Muguerza and others

2001, 2002, 2003b

Olive oil and antioxidants

Reduced lipid oxidation under vacuum storing

Ansorena and Astiasarn 2004a

Polyunsaturated n-3 fatty

acids and -tocopherol

Did not effect composition, lipid stability,

textural and sensory properties

Hoz and others 2004

Soy oil

Reduced saturated fatty acids,

increased linoleic and -linolenic acids

Muguerza and others 2003a

Soy protein isolate

Prevented drip loss

Porcella and others 2001

Citrus fiber

Reduced residual nitrite levels.

Did not modify sensorial properties

Aleson-Carbonell and others

2003, 2004

Citrus fiber

Improved nutritional properties.

Increased fiber levels

Fernndez-Gins and others

2003, 2004

Fish oil

Increased EPA and DHA content

and reduced n-6 fatty acids

Jeun-Horng and others 2002

Fructooligosaccharides

Hypocaloric and rich in dietary fiber

Cceres and others 2004

Konjac blends and soy protein

Did not modify physicochemical and textural

characteristics, except color

Chin and others 2000

Modified tapioca starch, sodium

citrate, and wheat bran

Decreased frying loss.

Improved water and fat binding

Ruusunen and others 2003a

Oat fiber

Increased hardness and sensory toughness

Steenblock and others 2001

Olive oil and pectin

Highest overall acceptabilityin 1.8% to 2.1% salt,

0% to 35% olive oil, and 0.25% to 0.45% pectin

Pappa and others 2000

Rosemary extract and whey powder Slowed rates of oxidation

Coronado and others 2002

Sodium citrate, carboxymethyl

cellulose, and carrageenan

Decreased frying loss and increased

saltiness and firmness

Ruusunen and others 2003b

Soy protein isolate and

konjac blends

Affected texture and color

Chin and others 1999

Soy protein/carrageenan mix

Affected water-holding capacity and thermal

stability. Did not improve textural parameters

Pietrasik and Duda 2000

Soy proteins

Affected textural properties

Feng and others 2003

Tomato juice and sunflower oil

Increased unsaturated and essential fatty

acids contents

Yilmaz and others 2002

Tea catechins

Inhibited lipid oxidation

Tang and others 2001

Rye bran

Lowered total trans fatty acids. Increased

ratio of total unsaturated fatty acids to
total saturated fatty acids

Yilmaz 2004

Walnuts

Acceptable physicochemical and sensory

properties. Improved health benefits

Jimnez-Colmenero and
others 2003

Feeding linseed

Increased n-3 PUFA

Enser and others 2000

Dietary linoleic acid and

vitamin E

Improved nutritional properties

Dal Bosco and others 2004

Conjugated linoleic acid

Improved color stability, inhibited lipid and

oxymioglobin oxidation

Hur and others 2004

Green tea

Improved biochemical properties

Jo and others 2003

Legume flours

Lowered fat absorption on frying

Modi and others 2003

Inner pea fiber

Improved tenderness and cooking yield

Anderson and Berry 2000

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCEVol. 70, Nr. 2, 2005

URLs and E-mail addresses are active links at www.ift.org

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