Recently, there has been an increased interest in manufacturing high fiber Foods. Beef patties containing 1% Lupran (sweet lupin bran flour), 2% barley and 3% of both fibers (1% Lu + 2% Ba) and a control all-beef pattie were manufactured and comparatively evaluated by visual and sensory panels. Hypocholesterolemic effects were tested by in vivo studies. Rats were fed diets containing meat or meat-blends as the sole source of protein, fat, fiber and cholesterol. All the diets were isocaloric. At the point of purchase, the meat blends were different (P < 0.05) from the in their apparent amount exudate, fat to lean ratio and integrity. Less significant was the difference in color, both visual and objective, with the beef-barley blend tending to be darker and the beef-lupran product tending to be brighter within 14 days oF storage. The sensory panel scored meat-blends as significantly less beefy, more beany and grainy (P> 0.05). The grainy flavor of barley was especially detectable. Mouthfeel was not significantly altered (P> 0.05) but there was a tendency for the panel to score the barley blend as dryer and tougher than the control. However, these results were not confirmed by objective measurements. Cooking losses and quantity of measured exudate For meat blends were similar to the control. Neither lupran nor barley had a significant antioxidative effect. The meat blend with 3% fiber lowered the LDL fraction in rats relative to that of rats on control diets. However, the amount of added fiber was too low to significantly affect serum or liver cholesterol. / Master of Science

A pre rigor cut was made through the 12th thoracic vertebrae of one side of a beef carcass, while the other side, processed conventionally, served as the control. The effect of this cut upon yield grade, sensory attributes and tenderness of Longissimus steaks was determined. The treatment caused no differences (P>0.05) in yield grade or in CIE L* a* b* values and oxymyoglobin, reduced myoglobin and metmyoglobin values measured on samples at the treatment site. Sensory panel ratings of visual attributes of color and overall appearance were less desirable (P<0.05) for the treated sides, while for visible texture ratings, there was no significant difference. Purge, cooking loss, percentage moisture, fat and protein, and total collagen were not affected by the treatment (P>0.05). Sarcomere length, and sensory panel ratings of myofibrillar tenderness, connective tissue, and overall tenderness were significantly more desirable for the treated sides. There was no significant difference in fragmentation index or peak force values between treatments, although these values tended to be lower for the treated sides than for the control sides. / Master of Science