The population of the elderly is projected to grow significantly in most of the developed countries in the near future. This should earn this demographic the title of ‘Consumer of the future’. Meat has high quality proteins and essential vitamins which are important for all demographics but more so for the elderly due to their susceptibility to sarcopenia. This review explored the landscape of meat research and product development that meets the distinctive requirements of the elderly, drawing from published refereed articles, industry reports, and unpublished grey literature. The review emphasised the importance of understanding the evolving dietary and sensory requirements associated with ageing and how they intersect with meat consumption. One notable aspect observed is the diversity within the elderly population, which underscores the necessity for tailored approaches in meat product development to cater to the varying preferences and nutritional needs of different individuals. This review also highlights the ongoing efforts in developing meat-based products that span a spectrum of consistencies, ranging from solid to liquid forms, to accommodate the diverse needs of elderly consumers. Despite these advancements, the review found a discrepancy between the pace of meat product development for the elderly and the rapid advancements in kitchen-level technologies and suggests that further research is needed to bridge this gap and align product innovation with emerging technological trends.
Five treatments: Control (C), Pre-evisceration Electrical Stimulation (CES: 15 Hz, 700 mA, 500 μs pulse width, 45 s pulse duration), vascular Rinse & Chill® (RC), CES + RC (ESRC), and RC with ES after evisceration (RCES:15 Hz, 600 mA, 1000 μs, 45 s), were applied to 21 lambs each. After being excised from the carcass, muscles were vacuum packaged and aged (Longissimus lumborum, LL, 3 and 22 d postmortem; Semimembranosus, SM, 3 d postmortem). Temperature, pH, purge, cooking loss, color, Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF), and consumer sensory evaluations were determined. CES and ESRC resulted in the fastest drop in pH below 6 and ESRC had the lowest likelihood of cold shortening. Sensory tenderness in the ESRC LL was greater than C. No differences in WBSF were found among treatments. RC generally produced lamb with higher lightness (L*). The rapid drop in pH likely was responsible for the increased purge and cooking loss observed. Color was affected by the order of ES and RC application.
Light wavelengths that induce meat discoloration and the photoreceptors in the meat were studied. We investigated the effects of the light wavelength on the oxidation rate of myoglobin (Mb) by exposing Mb extracts or model solutions containing Mb to light at specific wavelengths with a bandwidth of 5 nm using a fluorescence spectrophotometer. The wavelengths examined comprised 385, 415, 445, 460, 490, 525, 555, 580, 605, 630,660, and 750 nm. In the Mb extracts, Mb oxidation was induced through exposure to the light at 445 and 580–605 nm; Mb was insensitive to light at 445 nm. Mitochondria, containing cytochrome a and cytochrome a3 with absorption peaks at 448 and 600 nm, and riboflavin with fluorescence at 450 nm were studied as 445 nm receptors. Mitochondria significantly oxidized Mb via cytochrome c oxidation through complex IV activity; however, no 445 nm-specific photo sensitivity effects were observed. In contrast, riboflavin increased the Mb oxidation rate induced via exposure to the light at 450 nm in a concentration-dependent manner (minimum concentration: 38.4 μg L−1). While native mitochondria did not show 445 nm-specific photosensitivity effects on Mb, supernatants of heated mitochondria conferred 445 nm-wavelength sensitivity to Mb. Riboflavin concentration in this supernatant was 182 ± 60 μg L−1. The Mb photosensitivity spectrum with 473 μg L−1 riboflavin had two peaks at 445 nm and 580 nm, which were similar to those of Mb extract. These results suggest that mitochondrial damage affects the meat discoloration through the release of cytochrome c and riboflavin.
Ensuring consistent beef eating quality is paramount for meeting consumer demands and sustaining the meat industry. Electrical stimulation (ES) is a post-slaughter intervention used to accelerate post-mortem glycolysis, to avoid cold shortening, to control the tenderization rate of meat through sophisticated physical, chemical and biochemical mechanisms including proteolysis, to improve beef tenderness and to achieve normal pHu that might lead to positive impact on color. This review comprehensively examines the multifaceted effects of ES on beef quality, encompassing factors and settings influencing its efficacy and the underlying biochemical mechanisms revealed using traditional biochemistry methods. It then delves into the molecular pathways modulated by ES, as unveiled by muscle proteomics, aiming to provide a second look and an unprecedented understanding of the underlying biochemical mechanisms through an integrative proteomics analysis of low-voltage ES (LVES) proteomics studies. The proteins changing as a result of ES were gathered in a compendium of 67 proteins, from which 14 were commonly identified across studies. In-depth bioinformatics of this compendium allowed a comprehensive overview of the molecular signatures and interacting biochemical pathways behind electrically stimulated beef muscles. The proteins belong to interconnected molecular pathways including the ATP metabolic process and glycolysis, muscle structure and contraction, heat shock proteins, oxidative stress, proteolysis and apoptosis. Understanding the intricate interplay of molecular pathways behind ES could improve the efficiency of beef production, ensuring consistent meat quality and meeting consumer expectations. The integrative analysis approach performed in this study holds promise for the meat industry's sustainability and competitiveness.
The impact of Capsicum chinense concentration and salt varieties on cholesterol oxides, physicochemical properties, microbial profiles and organoleptic attributes of Kilishi, a sundried beef jerky, was assessed. Kilishi (KL) was prepared from sundried strips of Biceps femoris and marinated with either 2 % Sodium chloride (NaCl) + 7 % fresh Capsicum chinense (CC) (KL−1), 1 % NaCl + 1 % Potassium chloride (KCl) + 7 % CC (KL−2), 1 % NaCl + 1 % Potassium citrate (C6H5K3O7) + 7 % CC (KL−3), 1 % NaCl + 14 % CC (KL-4), 1 % KCl + 14 % CC (KL-5) or 1 % C6H5K3O7 + 14 % CC (KL-6), and stored at 29 ± 1 °C for 90 d. The partial or total replacement of NaCl lowered (P < 0.05) the Na content in KL. The KL samples treated with 14 % CC had lower (P < 0.05) 25-hydroxy cholesterol, cholesta-3,5-dien-7-one, carbonyl, pH, malondialdehyde, and lightness and greater (P < 0.05) redness and Lactobacillus counts than those treated with 7 % CC. The chemical composition, sensory scores and water activity were unaffected by the additives. The taste, flavor, and overall acceptance scores of KL decreased (P < 0.05) after 30 days of storage. The substitution of KCl and C6H5K3O7 for NaCl and the increase in CC concentration from 7 to 14 % lowered the Na content and selected cholesterol oxides, respectively, without impairing the organoleptic traits of Kilishi.