Physicochemical properties and shelf-life of low-fat pork sausages wrapped with active film manufactured by sodium alginate and cherry tomato powder.

Objective: This study was carried out to investigate physicochemical properties, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of low-fat sausages (LFSs) covered with sodium alginate (SA) film alone and with powder film (TSA-film) formed by cross-linking cherry tomato powder (CTP) and SA with calcium chloride (CaCl2).

Methods: Sausages covered with the biodegradable film were assessed based on the measurement of pH, color (L*, a*, b*), proximate analysis, expressive moisture (EM), texture profile analysis, total plate counts (TPC), violet red bile, and 2-Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) during storage under refrigeration. LFSs wrapped with TSA-film were compared with those wrapped with SA-film and without film (control) during storage at 10°C for 35 days.

Results: The LFSs covered with the mixed film had lower pH, lightness (L*), EM%, TBARS, and TPC, but lower yellowness (b*) and hardness values than those wrapped with TSA-film alone.

Conclusion: Lipid oxidation and microbial growth was retarded in sausages covered with biodegradable films, especially multiple films as compared to single film, thereby resulting in extended shelf-life of the LFSs.