Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

The quality deterioration of meat products due to lipid oxidation could be controlled by utilizing agri-food byproducts rich in antioxidants. This study evaluated the effect of adding hazelnut skin and dry tomato peel to pork burgers against oxidation phenomena. Three types of burgers were prepared: a control (C) with a basic formulation, and two formulations with 2.5% hazelnut skin (HS) or with 2.5% dry tomato peel (DTP). Microbiological, sensorial, and physio-chemical analyses were performed during 7 days of refrigerated storage (0–4 ◦C). Results showed a high inhibition of oxidation in HS burgers at all sampling times, both raw and cooked burgers, while in DTP burgers this phenomenon occurred only when cooked. Both by-products provided a significant amount of fiber, increased the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content, and improved the omega-6/ omega-3 ratio.

The effects of different dietary n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratios and gender on key carcass traits, as well as the nutritional and technological quality of lipids in medium– heavy pig tissues have been poorly studied. To investigate the subject, 24 Large White, barrows and gilts, evenly divided into two groups of 12, were fed from 80 kg of live-weight (LW) until slaughter at 150 kg LW, either a high (9.7:1) (HPR) or low (1.4:1) (LPR) dietary n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. On individual samples of longissimus thoracis muscle (LTM), subcutaneous (SF) and perirenal (PF) adipose tissues (ATs), the fatty acid (FA) composition was determined by gas chromatography, and lipid nutritional indices (LNIs) were calculated. The oxidative stability of meat was evaluated by determining the malondialdehyde content on raw and cooked (24 h postmortem) and refrigerated (8 days postmortem) LTM samples. The carcass traits did not vary between genders and diets. The LPR group showed a higher n-3 PUFA level and a lower n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in all the tissues examined and better LNI, especially in the ATs. Diet did not affect the oxidative stability of meat. Gender did not influence the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio, while barrows showed improvements in some LNI in ATs. Reducing the n-6/n-3 ratio in the diet of growing–finishing medium–heavy pigs improved the FA profile in all tissues and most LNI in ATs without impairing the oxidative stability of meat.