The effects of micrococci on sensory characteristics of different batches of summer sausages were determined. Sixty four salt-tolerant indigenous isolates were selected from beef or mutton treated with 1.5 or 3.0% sodium chloride and 120 ppm sodium nitrite, and held at 5 or 10 C for 5 days. These isolates (61/64) were identified as staphylococci and micrococci. Summer sausages were made from several lamb, ewe, and ram carcasses which were hand deboned and blended after grinding to contain 22% fat. Six summer sausage treatments were prepared using two different sources of commercial starter cultures including Micrococcus species or Micrococcus varians and Lactobacillus plantarum, an indigenous Micrococcus isolate, a microbial lipase, or encapsulated lactic acid. Three sensory panel sessions rated these products for consumer acceptability. Sensory panel results indicated that starter culture treatments did not improve sensory characteristics of the summer sausage over the treatment containing encapsulated lactic acid. Lipase addition caused a general reduction in sensory panel ratings for flavor, texture, appearance, and overall acceptability of the summer sausage (p = 0.05).

Seediness and other differences between rabbiteye-RB (Vaccinium ashei), southern highbush-SHB (Vaccinium darrowii), and commercial market equivalent, highbush-HB (Vaccinium corymbosum) varieties/lines were determined. Forty six selections of rabbiteye and southern highbush blueberries, and three highbush varieties, were analyzed for seediness (seeds per berry volume, SPV). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in SPV between SHB and RB selections, but differences (p < 0.05) existed within species. Berries were assigned to 8 groups based on SPV to conduct sensory panels and chemical analysis. Consumers perceived RB more different than SHB from HB blueberries. In the descriptive panel, differences (p < 0.05) were found in shriveling, skin intactness, grittiness, seediness, and tartness. The soluble solids to acid ratio of HB, SHB, and RB averaged 16.05, 9.60, and 11.05%, respectively. Some consumers and trained panelists can discern differences due to seediness and other traits between blueberry species.

Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de la incorporación de Camellia sinensis L. (2%, 4% y 6% de extracto de té verde) sobre el contenido de compuesto fenólicos, capacidad antioxidante y aceptación sensorial de un yogurt probiótico. Material y métodos: Estudio experimental de laboratorio dónde se elaboró un yogurt probiótico con té verde añadido en distintas concentraciones de 2%, 4% y 6%. Además, se evaluó la aceptabilidad sensorial y se analizó las características físicoquímicas de cada muestra. Asimismo, para determinar el contenido de polifenoles se utilizó el método de Folin-Ciocalteau y, el método de DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-1-picrilhidrazilo) para determinar la capacidad antioxidante. Resultados: Se encontró que en el yogurt probiótico con 6% de té verde añadido había 1.64 mg/mL de contenido de polifenoles, casi el triple del contenido de polifenoles que en el yogurt probiótico con 2% de té verde añadido. Además, se encontró que el yogurt con mayor porcentaje de té verde añadido (6%) obtuvo 61% de decoloración del reactivo de DPPH, lo que nos indica mayor capacidad antioxidante a comparación de las muestras con menor porcentaje de té verde añadido. Conclusión: A mayor contenido de compuestos fenólicos, mayor es la capacidad antioxidante de un yogurt probiótico con té verde añadido, además de ser el que mayor aceptabilidad sensorial alcanzó, siendo su olor y sabor los atributos más apreciados por los panelistas no entrenados quienes le otorgaron un puntaje de 4 en una escala hedónica de 5 puntos, lo que equivale a un “le gusta moderadamente”. / Objective: To evaluate the effect of Camellia sinensis L. (2%, 4% and 6% of green tea extract) incorporation on the content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity and sensory acceptance of a probiotic yogurt. Material and methods: In this experimental laboratory study, probiotic yogurt with added green tea was elaborated using three concentrations of green tea extract (2%, 4% and 6%), and the sensory acceptability and the physical-chemical characteristics were determined for each concentration. Likewise, to determine the content of polyphenols, the Folin-Ciocalteau method was used, and the DPPH method (2,2-diphenyl-1-1-picrylhydrazyl) was used to determine the antioxidant capacity. Results: It was found that in the probiotic yogurt with 6% green tea extract added there was 1.64 mg / mL of polyphenol content, almost triple the polyphenol content than in the probiotic yogurt with 2% green tea added. In addition, it was found that the yogurt with the highest percentage of green tea added (6%) obtained 61% discoloration of the DPPH reagent, which indicates greater antioxidant capacity compared to samples with a lower percentage of green tea added. Conclusion: The higher the content of phenolic compounds, the greater the antioxidant capacity of a probiotic yogurt with green tea added, besides being the one with the highest sensory acceptability, its smell and taste were the attributes most appreciated by the untrained panelists who gave it a score of 4 on a hedonic scale of 5 points, which is equivalent to a "moderately like". / Tesis