Developments in Science, Technology, Quality and Constraints of Restructured Meat Products-A Review

Abstract

To provide the consumer with a highly palatable product at a reasonable cost is the main objective of any food industry. Particular to meat industry, utilization of less valuable carcasses and carcass cuts and carcass components (plates, flanks, shanks, etc.) is of prime interest in periods of economic pressure. One such relevantly new technological approach is restructuring technology, which enables the production of value-added meat products from low value cuts and trimmings of carcasses. Although the economics and processing of restructuring meats appear favourable to producing a product that has the palatability attributes that are between an intact muscle steak and ground meat. This review of restructured meat products discuss the actual science and technology behind the restructuring of muscles, how muscle chunks are binding each together at protein molecules stage, factors influencing the meat pieces binding, type of restructuring methodologies, quality attributes of restructured meat products, problems of oxidation, use of natural antioxidants and recommends research needs for the future.