Open Access
Plant-based and hybrid patties with healthy fats and broccoli extract fortification: more balanced, environmentally friendly alternative to meat prototypes?
(MDPI, 2025-02-01) González Peñalver, José Miguel; Martínez Aldaya, Maite; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Virseda Chamorro, Paloma; Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Hybrid and plant-based products are an emerging trend in food science. This study aimed to develop three patty prototypes (meat, hybrid, and plant-based) enhanced with vegetable fat replacement and broccoli extract using a soy allergen-free protein matrix treated with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and sous vide cooking to create sustainable and nutritious burger alternatives. The samples were evaluated for microbiological safety, proximal composition, physicochemical properties, sensory characteristics, and carbon footprint. The key findings revealed that the plant-based patties had the smallest carbon footprint (0.12 kg CO2e), followed by the hybrid patties (0.87 kg CO2e) and the meat patties (1.62 kg CO2e). The hybrid patties showed increased hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness compared to the meat patties after sous vide treatment. This improvement likely results from synergies between the meat and plant proteins. Regarding the treatments, in all the samples, the highest hardness was observed after the combined HHP and sous vide treatment, an interesting consideration for future prototypes. Sensory analysis indicated that the plant-based and hybrid samples maintained appealing visual and odour characteristics through the treatments, while the meat patties lost the evaluator¿s acceptance. Although further improvements in sensory attributes are needed, hybrid patties offer a promising balance of improved texture and intermediate carbon footprint, making them a viable alternative as sustainable, nutritious patties.
Open Access
Physicochemical and sensory assessments in Spain and United States of PGI-certified Ternera de Navarra vs. Certified Angus Beef
(MDPI, 2021) Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Murillo Arbizu, María Teresa; Insausti Barrenetxea, Kizkitza; Ibáñez Moya, Francisco C.; Cord, Christine Leick; Carr, Tom R.; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
The physicochemical and sensory differences between the PGI-Certified Ternera de Navarra (CTNA) (Spanish origin) and Certified Angus Beef (CAB) (US origin) were assessed in Spain and the USA. To characterize the carcasses, the ribeye areas (REAs), and marbling levels were assessed in both testing places. Twenty striploins per certified beef program were used as study samples. For sensory analysis, the striploins were vacuum packaged and aged for 7 days at 4◦ C and 85% RH in each corresponding laboratory. Thereafter, the samples were half cut and frozen. One of the halves was shipped to the other counterpart-testing place. The fat and moisture percentage content, Warner Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF), and total and soluble collagen were tested for all the samples. The CAB carcasses had smaller REAs (p < 0.0001) and exhibited higher marbling levels (p < 0.0001). The CAB striploins had a higher fat content (p < 0.0001) and required lower WBSF (p < 0.05) than the CTNA samples. Trained panelists rated the CAB samples as juicer (p < 0.001), more tender/less tough (p < 0.0001), and more flavorful (p < 0.0001) than the CTNA counterparts. This study shows that beef from both countries had medium-high tenderness, juiciness, and beef flavor scores and very low off-flavor scores. Relevant differences found between the ratings assigned by the Spanish and the US panelists suggest training differences, or difficulties encountered in using the appropriate terminology for defining each sensory attribute. Furthermore, the lack of product knowledge (i.e., consumption habits) may have been another reason for such differences, despite the blind sensory evaluation.
Open Access
High-pressure processing and sous-vide cooking effects on physicochemical properties of meat-based, plant-based and hybrid patties
(Elsevier, 2023) Janardhanan, Rasmi; Huerta Leidenz, Nelson; Ibáñez Moya, Francisco C.; Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Modern technologies such as high-hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP) and sous-vide cooking (SVCOOK) have not been fully assessed for improving the quality of veal patties. The effects of HPP alone or combined with SVCOOK technique on physicochemical characteristics of veal, plant-based, and hybrid patties were investigated. Samples of the different formulations were subjected to three pressures (350–600 MPa) for 5–15 min, followed by SVCOOK (55–65 ◦C for 15 min). The color of the HPP treated plant-based and hybrid patties tended to be of less reddish color tone and conformed more towards a yellowish shade. The dual technology treated hybrid patties were like veal patties in color and texture parameters, whereas the physicochemical parameters of plantbased patties were different from veal and hybrid patties. Conversely, the effect of HPP on hybrid patties was not comparable to veal patties. The dual (HPP–SVCOOK) technology has the potential to develop novel hybrid products with physicochemical characteristics comparable to those of veal-based patties.
Open Access
Chistorra de Navarra: un embutido tradicional enraizado en expansión
(Estrategias Alimentarias, 2022) Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Gómez Bastida, Inmaculada; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
La chistorra es un producto cárnico de tradición gastronómica navarra. Para la defensa y promoción de este producto, el Gremio de Carniceros organiza periódicamente un concurso donde se elige la mejor chistorra de Navarra. Esta elección es llevada a cabo de manera rigurosa por un panel de expertos que evalúa sensorialmente las chistorras elaboradas por diferentes artesanos de la comunidad. Durante años, fruto de la colaboración entre la Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA) y el Gremio de Carniceros, se han realizado estudios para contribuir al reconocimiento y desarrollo e incentivar la mejora de la calidad y del consumo de la chistorra que se produce en Navarra. Estos estudios se han realizado sobre muestras representativas de las chistorras participantes en los concursos, en las que se han evaluado además de la calidad sensorial, parámetros físicoquímicos y nutricionales. La necesidad de adaptarse a las tendencias actuales del mercado podría poner en peligro la fórmula tradicional, alejando así a la chistorra de las características propias tradicionales que la definen. Por ello es importante determinar los estándares de la chistorra actual y crear una marca de calidad como la Indicación Geográfica Protegida (IGP).
Open Access
Dishes adapted to dysphagia: sensory characteristics and their relationship to hedonic acceptance
(MDPI, 2021) Merino Antón, Gorka; Marín Arroyo, Remedios; Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Ibáñez Moya, Francisco C.; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Dishes whose texture has been modified for dysphagia undergo changes in other sensory characteristics as well. Therefore, it is necessary to identify these characteristics in adapted dishes and their relationship to hedonic acceptance. In the present work, the sensory characteristics of five dishes adapted to dysphagia associated with cerebral palsy were investigated using the check-all-that-apply method. A hedonic evaluation with a panel of non-dysphagic judges was performed to relate the degree of acceptance with the sensory characteristics of the adapted dishes. The identification of the original non-adapted dish as well as the relationship between the hedonic evaluation by nondysphagic judges and dysphagic judges were explored. The main attributes of the dishes adapted to dysphagia were “homogeneity” and “easy-to-swallow”. Attributes that increased the hedonic evaluation were “flavorful”, “flavor of the original dish”, “soft texture”, “easy-to-swallow”, and “odor of the original dish”. The attributes that decreased the hedonic evaluation were “thick mash” and “bland”. The fish dish was the only one correctly identified more than 62.5% of the time. The adapted dishes received scores above 4.7 out of 9.0 in the hedonic evaluation. The most accepted dishes were the chicken stew and the chickpea stew. Except for the pasta dish, the test yielded similar results to those obtained with dysphagic judges. The texture-modified dishes were correctly characterized and accepted. This study shows that all the sensory characteristics of the adapted dishes are crucial for acceptance and identification.
Open Access
Extra-virgin olive oil enriched with lycopene: from industrial tomato by-products to consumer
(Wiley, 2024) Fernández Pan, Idoya; Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Ibáñez Moya, Francisco C.; Arroqui Vidaurreta, Cristina; Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Virseda Chamorro, Paloma; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Lycopene is usually extracted from the by-product of the tomato industry using organic solvents (OS) in combination with a physical technique. An emerging physical technique is high-pressure processing (HPP). This study aims to find a method by applying a green solvent (edible vegetable oils) in an HPP-assisted solid-liquid extraction. Three dosages of tomato by-product (10%, 20%, and 40%, w/v) were tested using OS, sunflower oil (RSO), and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). Lycopene recovery increased with the ratio of by-product to oil, particularly when using EVOO. In another stage of the study, consumers evaluated EVOO that contained two doses of tomato by-product (10% and 20%, w/v). Consumers preferred the EVOO from 10% tomato by-product ratio over that with 20%. Additionally, 83.8% of consumers stated that enriched oil could be deemed beneficial for health. The proposed method considers the fundamental principles of the circular economy and practical industrial scenario to recover lycopene from tomato by-product.
Open Access
Revalorisation of broccoli crop surpluses and field residues: novel ingredients for food industry uses
(Springer, 2023) Villaño Valencia, Débora; Fernández Pan, Idoya; Arozarena Martinicorena, Íñigo; Ibáñez Moya, Francisco C.; Virseda Chamorro, Paloma; Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Research on the management of broccoli crop residues and surpluses is critical for improving agricultural practices, optimizing food industrial manufacture, and contributing to better human nutrition. The objective of this study was to obtain novel ingredients based on these residues and surpluses for a wide range of applications in the food industry. The efect of air-drying (60 °C or 80 °C) applied to feld residues (broccoli stalks), mimicking industrial conditions, was compared with dehydration by freeze-drying applied to these same feld residues and to crop surpluses (broccoli whole plant). Thus, diferent broccoli fours were obtained and characterised for technological and biological properties including colour, antioxidant activity, nutrients, total polyphenol content, and content of glucosinolates. Flours from feld residues showed high levels of dietary fbre (≈22% dry weight). Broccoli crop surpluses fours had relevant contents of glucosinolates (≈13 mg/g dry weight). Therefore, within the framework of the circular economy, these fours are proposed to revalorise the two main broccoli crop discarded fractions. Such fours could be used in a realistic and simple way by the agri-food industries interested in the development of healthy and conscience foodstufs, in a cost-efcient manner.
Open Access
Instrumental and sensory techniques to characterize the texture of foods suitable for dysphagic people: a systematic review
(Wiley, 2022) Ibáñez Moya, Francisco C.; Merino Antón, Gorka; Marín Arroyo, Remedios; Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
The interest to characterize texture-modified foods (TMFs) intended for people with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) has grown significantly since 2011. Several instrumental and sensory techniques have been applied in the analysis of these foods. The objective of the present systematic review was to identify the most appropriate techniques, especially for the food industry and clinical setting. The search was carried out in three online databases according to the 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses' (PRISMA). Across the multiple trials reviewed, Texture Profile Analysis and the Uniaxial Compression Test were most used as the instrumental technique for solid foods, and the Back Extrusion Test for fluid and semisolid foods. All trials used descriptive analysis as the sensory technique. However, the experimental conditions of the trials lacked standardization. Consequently, the results of the trials were not comparable. To properly characterize the texture of TMFs intended for OD by each technique, an international consensus is needed to establish standardized experimental conditions. Methods based on these techniques should also be validated by collaborative studies to verify repeatability, replicability, and reproducibility.
Open Access
Metageometries for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detection at THz range in food systems
(IEEE, 2021) Jáuregui López, Irati; Insausti Barrenetxea, Kizkitza; Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, when present in food systems, have been shown to have a detrimental effect on human health, producing carcinogenic elements. So, the implementation of processes for their detection and identification is of vital importance. Nowadays, there are different methodologies for this purpose, but they consist of expensive and time-consuming processes. Due to their enhanced sensitivity and more accurate detection capability, metageometries operating in the terahertz band arise as a new methodology to identify and detect different chemical or biological substances. In this work, we propose a labyrinth metageometry able to detect different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons collected in European regulations as the most critical compounds with high experimental sensitivity. Our design is also capable to distinguish between different compounds at the same concentration. This work leads the way to the design of new metastructures able to improve the current detection limits, and thus obtain a new methodology, easier and less time-consuming that the actual methods.
Open Access
Tenderness of PGI "Ternera de Navarra" beef samples determined by FTIR-MIR spectroscopy
(MDPI, 2022) Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Lozano Saiz, María; Echeverría Morrás, Jesús; Murillo Arbizu, María Teresa; Insausti Barrenetxea, Kizkitza; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Understanding meat quality attribute changes during ageing by using non-destructive techniques is an emergent pursuit in the agroindustry research field. Using beef certified samples from the protected geographical indication (PGI) “Ternera de Navarra”, the primary goal of this study was to use Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy on the middle infrared region (FTIR-MIR) as a tool for the examination of meat tenderness evolution throughout ageing. Samples of the longissimus dorsi muscle of twenty young bulls were aged for 4, 6, 11, or 18 days at 4 °C. Animal carcass classification and sample proximate analysis were performed to check sample homogeneity. Raw aged steaks were analyzed by FTIR-MIR spectroscopy (4000–400 cm−1) to record the vibrational spectrum. Texture profile analysis was performed using a multiple compression test (compression rates of 20%, 80%, and 100%). Compression values were found to decrease notably between the fourth and sixth day of ageing for the three compression rates studied. This tendency continued until the 18th day for C20. For C80 and C100, there was not a clear change in the 11th and 18th days of the study. Regarding FTIR-MIR as a prediction method, it achieved an R2 lower than 40%. Using principal component analysis (PCA) of the results, the whole spectrum fingerprint was used in the discrimination of the starting and final ageing days with correct maturing time classifications. Combining the PCA treatment together with the discriminant analysis of spectral data allowed us to differentiate the samples between the initial and the final ageing points, but it did not single out the intermediate points.