To examine flavor variations in Xuanwei ham due to different cooking methods, we selected one-year cured Xuanwei ham and applied four techniques: dry frying (DF), baking (BA), steaming (ST), and boiling (BO). Organoleptic evaluation revealed ST received the highest overall sensory score. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that the total nucleotide content was significantly different (P < 0.05), lactic acid predominated the measured organic acids. Solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) and chromatography-electronic nose (GC-E-Nose) data indicated that ST resulting in significantly higher total volatile compounds than the other methods (P < 0.05). SPME-GC-MS detected 55 volatile compounds, and 12 characteristic flavor substances were identified using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) (VIP > 1). This study aimed to support comprehensive research on the flavor characteristics of cooked Xuanwei ham and guide the selection of appropriate processing methods.

With the increasing awareness of health, more people have shown a preference for low-alcohol beverages. Seeking various methods to improve the quality of kiwi wine is now a major research interest in the wine industry. In this study, kiwi wine was fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and different non-Saccharomyces strains (Torulaspora delbrueckii, Kluyveromyces thermotolerans, Pichia fermentans) in three methods (pure fermentation, simultaneous, and sequential co-fermentation). The physicochemical characteristics, color parameters, phenolic profiles, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activities, organic acids, and taste sense of the different wines were evaluated to determine the effects of different yeasts and fermentation methods on the quality of the kiwi wine. Results indicated that co-fermentation reduced the contents of alcohol while enhancing the lightness of the kiwi wine. The TPC of sequential co-fermentation with K. thermotolerans/S. cerevisiae was significantly higher than that of their simultaneous co-fermentation. Compared to K. thermotolerans/S. cerevisiae, the antioxidant activities were increased by co-fermentation of T. delbrueckii/S. cerevisiae and P. fermentans/S. cerevisiae. Principal component analysis showed that kiwi wines fermented by different yeasts and inoculation methods could be separated and grouped. Correlation analysis presented positive correlations of phenolic composition, antioxidant activities, and color intensity. This study provided theoretical guidance for co-fermentation of non-Saccharomyces/S. cerevisiae and accelerated the industrialization process of kiwi wine.

Elderflowers are used for both culinary and health purposes. Their composition and, therefore, their properties depend on the variety from which they were obtained. The aim of this study was to compare six cultivated varieties with the wild form. The research included determining the basic chemical composition, bioactive ingredients and antioxidant activity. This research confirms that elderberry flowers are rich in bioactive ingredients. The wild form turned out to be the most rich in bioactive ingredients, while among the tested varieties it was \'Weihenstephan\'; both of these forms were characterized by a high content of polyphenols (394.36 and 377.75 mg/100 g dm, respectively) and antioxidant activity. The PCA analysis showed general differences in the chemical composition of elderberry flowers, depending on the variety, in relation to 23 variables, as well as showing their mutual correlations and the strength of their influence on the PCA model.

The objectives of this review are to investigate how benzoic acid can mitigate the negative effects of weaning stress, improve the intestinal microbiota, intestinal health, and growth of nursery pigs, determine the optimal dose level of benzoic acid for the growth rate in nursery pigs, and compare the efficacy of benzoic acid and other acids in pig feeds. After weaning, pigs are exposed to less lactose and solid feed with high acid-binding capacity at infrequent intervals, causing an increase in digesta pH, reducing protein digestion, and increasing ammonia-producing bacteria in the stomach. Benzoic acid supplementation has improved the intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs through its antimicrobial properties and pH reduction in the digesta. The positive modulation of luminal microbiota in the small intestine of pigs by benzoic acid improves intestinal morphology and enhances nutrient utilization, especially nitrogen, of nursery pigs. Benzoic acid supplementation of up to 1% in feeds also increases hippuric acid contents in the urine of nursery pigs, decreasing urinary pH, which is related to ammonia emission and barn conditions in intensive pig production. Supported by the beneficial impacts of benzoic acid, the growth performance of nursery pigs was also improved. However, excessive benzoic acid (over 2.5% up to 5%) in feeds reduces the growth performance of nursery pigs. Thus, this review conducted a meta-analysis of the results from 16 papers to determine the optimal dose level of benzoic acid for body weight gain of nursery pigs, which was found to be 0.60%. The efficacy of benzoic acid was similar to that of other organic acids, including citric acid, fumaric acid, formic acid, and formate salts. Collectively, benzoic acid supplementation can positively modulate the luminal and mucosal microbiota in the small intestine, increase nutrient utilization and intestinal health, decrease urinary pH, and improve the growth performance of nursery pigs.

In this study, nanofiltration experiments using synthetic solutions containing acetate, butyrate, and lactate are carried out to assess the impact of the feed composition, i.e., feed concentration and feed proportions, on the separation factor of couples of solutes in binary and ternary solutions. In binary solutions, no influence of the solute proportions in the feed was pointed out, whatever the couple of solutes. The separation factor of acetate/butyrate and acetate/lactate was found to decrease with increasing feed concentration, while that of lactate/butyrate remained constant. The separation factors of acetate/lactate and lactate/butyrate were identical in ternary solutions compared to binary ones, showing no impact of the addition of the third solute. In ternary solutions, the presence of lactate decreased the separation factor of acetate/butyrate, but this decrease was not influenced by the proportion of lactate.

UNASSIGNED: Meat contamination occurs in various ways, the most important of which are live animals before slaughter and the slaughter process (de-hiding and evisceration). For this, many substances were used that have an antimicrobial effect and can disinfect the surfaces of the carcass and extend its shelf life.
UNASSIGNED: This research aimed to study the efficiency of using some organic acids (lactic acid and beefxide) to reduce the microbial load (indicator microorganisms) on the surfaces of beef carcasses and some edible organs in the Mosul slaughterhouse.
UNASSIGNED: Two hundred sixty-four swabs (192 carcasses + 72 edible organ samples) were collected over the course of three months from the Mosul slaughterhouse in Nineveh Governorate between September 2023, and December 2023 (132 treated with organic acids and 132 not treated). The petrifilm method was used to detect indicator microorganisms in the samples.
UNASSIGNED: Our results showed that the contamination rate in beef carcasses with generic Escherichia coli, coliforms, total coliform counts, and Enterobacteriaceae before treatment was 0.81, 1.22, 1.48, and 1.38 mean log colony forming unit (CFU/cm2), respectively. While the contamination rate in samples treated with organic acids for generic E. coli, coliforms, total coliform counts, and Enterobacteriaceae was -0.1, 0.31, 0.45, and 0.41 mean log CFU/cm2, respectively. Moreover, the level of contamination with indicator microorganisms in edible organs treated with organic acids was lower compared to untreated samples. Even though there was contamination with indicator microorganisms in the liver, heart, and kidney, there was no \"significant\" difference between them. Whereas there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between lactic acid and beefxide solution in terms of reducing the rate of contamination of the indicator microorganisms in carcasses and the edible organs samples. Regarding the type of swabs used in the study, the results showed the effectiveness of sponge swabs, as the rate of microbial recovery (indicator microorganisms) was higher (p < 0.01) compared to cotton swabs.
UNASSIGNED: The study demonstrated the efficiency of using organic acids (lactic acid and beefxide solution) in reducing the microbial load to a level that does not cause diseases.

Organic acids (OAs) are employed in animal feed to regulate gastrointestinal disorders and diarrhoea thanks to their ability to modulate the gastrointestinal environment and their antimicrobial capacity. However, there is not enough evidence regarding the most adequate OA and its effectiveness in rabbit farming. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen and evaluate the response of young rabbits to six OAs, administered via drinking water, at three different concentrations (pH levels). Organic acids (acetic, ACET; formic, FOR; propionic, PROP; lactic, LAC; citric, CIT; and butyric, BUT) were tested at three concentrations (pH 3, 4, and 5). A negative control (CON; non-acidified water) was also included. We used 240 weaned rabbits (28 days old) divided into 2 batches. In each batch, animals were randomly allocated to 1 of the 19 experimental treatments and were housed in group cages of 6 animals per cage, treatment, and batch. Among the 240 rabbits, an additional cage with 6 animals was included to determine the initial physiological state of the animals. All animals were fed with commercial pelleted feed throughout the whole experiment. The duration of the study was 7 days, until 35 days of age. At 31 and 35 days of age, in each batch, three animals per day and treatment were slaughtered. The pH of the digestive contents in the fundus, antrum, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum, as well as the gastric pepsin enzyme activity, was measured. Water and feed consumption per cage and individual body weight (BW) were recorded daily. The type and dosage of OAs affected water intake. ACET 3, PROP 3, and BUT 3 reduced water intake compared to CON, negatively impacting feed intake and weight gain. FOR and CIT acids led to the highest BW and weight gain at 35 days, compared to PROP, LAC, and BUT (p < 0.05); showing ACET intermediate values. While OAs had limited effects on gastric and small intestine pH, acidified water at pH 4 and 5 lowered ileum and caecum pH (p < 0.05) compared to pH 3. Acidified water at pH 4 showed the highest (p < 0.05) pepsin activity compared to pH 3 and pH 5. Considering the limited sample size and short-term assessment period of our screening test, the OAs with the highest potential for use in post-weaning rabbits were FOR, ACET, and CIT at pH 4. The selected combinations did not exhibit any early adverse effects in young rabbits. These results should be further confirmed in a broader population of animals. It would also be advisable to extend the application of OAs over longer periods to evaluate their effects throughout the entire growing period of rabbits.

Indian jujube (Ber) is highly perishable climacteric fruit owing to high decay index limiting its marketability and demands interventions to prolong shelf life. Fungicides are normally used to control rot during postharvest storage, however, residues left necessitate eco-safe alternatives like hot water dipping. Mature, pre-climacteric jujubes were dipped in 45, 50 or 55 °C water for 8, 6 or 4 min, respectively and then stored at 5 °C for periodic quality evaluation. Dipping fruits in 55 °C water resulted in 32.69 and 35.27, 64.21 and 58.57, 30.41 and 30.42, 38.50 and 52.20 % lower weight loss, decay index, malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage, whereas 15.40 and 16.77, 19.51 and 20.48 % greater antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid respectively for Umran and Pakwhite compared to 25 °C water dip. The highest glucose, fructose, malic, citric, and tartaric acids were 23.44 ± 1.04 and 29.9 ± 0.95, 30.68 ± 1.72 and 41.17 ± 2.34 mg/100 g, 138.1 ± 6.45 and 112.97 ± 6.16, 57.49 ± 1.71 and 53.78 ± 1.90, 79.58 ± 5.1 and 65.3 ± 4.83 μg/100 g whereas lower sucrose 12.34 ± 0.94 and 16.33 ± 1.05 mg/100 g were respectively recorded in 55 °C water dipped Umran and Pakwhite fruits. High dip water temperature (55 °C) exhibited better quality with the lowest decay index and weight loss, greater membrane integrity, bioactives content and sensory acceptance scores. Hence, hot water dipping was shown to be an effective residue-free option to extend the marketable period of jujubes to capture distant markets.

Antibiotic overuse in poultry feeds has disastrous implications; consequently, long-term alternatives must be developed. As a result, the current study aims to assess the impact of Aspergillus niger filtrate (ANF) high in organic acids grown on agro-industrial residue of faba bean (AIRFB) on quail diet, as well as their influence on bird productivity, digestion, carcass yield, blood chemistry, and intestinal microbiota. A total of 240 Japanese quails (aged 7 d) were used in this study, divided equally among 5 experimental groups with 48 quails each. Group 1 (G1) received a basal diet without any ANF, group 2 (G2) received a basal diet supplemented with 0.5 mL ANF/kg diet, group 3 (G3) received a basal diet supplemented with 1.0 mL ANF/kg diet, group 4 (G4) received a basal diet supplemented with 1.5 mL ANF/kg diet, and group 5 (G5) received a basal diet supplemented with 2 mL ANF/kg diet. The performance parameters were monitored at 1 to 3, 3 to 5, and 1 to 5 wk. Adding ANF increased body weight at 3 and 5 wk, as well as body weight gain at 1 to 3, 3 to 5, and 1 to 5 wk, compared to the control diet. The ANF fed quails had the highest feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. The addition of ANF to the quail diet had no effect on the weight of the carcass, gizzard, heart, liver, giblets, or dressing; however, it did lower triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein while increasing high-density lipoprotein levels. The quail groups that received ANF had enhanced immunological indices such as IgG, IgM, IgA, and lysozymes. It also increased the levels of superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant contents, as well as catalase, and digestive enzymes such as protease, amylase, and lipase. However, it lowered the blood MDA levels compared to control. It has been demonstrated that the total gut microbiota, Escherichia coli, total coliforms, and the population of Salmonella are all reduced in ANF-fed quails. Histological examination of ANF quails\' liver and intestinal sections revealed normal hepatic parenchyma, typical leaf-like intestinal villi, and comparatively short and frequently free lumina. In conclusion, Japanese quail showed improvements in performance, digestive enzymes, antioxidant indices, immunity, and capacity to reduce intestinal pathogenic bacteria after consuming diet supplemented with ANF.

Every year, approximately 2 billion tons of plant-derived waste (such as straw and crop residues) are generated globally, most of which are either incinerated, dumped, or landfilled without proper planning, leading to severe environmental pollution and resource wastage. Plant-derived waste exhibits potential advantages as a growing media component in various aspects. However, numerous studies have also indicated that plant-derived waste generally possesses strong phytotoxicity, which must be removed or reduced before being utilized as a growing media component. Therefore, accurately assessing their phytotoxicity and appropriately modifying it to ensure their support for plant growth when used as a growing media component is crucial. This paper reviews the manifestation and assessment methods of phytotoxicity in plant-derived waste; systematically summarizes the phytotoxicity sources of three common types of plant-derived waste (garden waste, crop straw, and spent mushroom substrate), as well as the toxic mechanisms of two representative phytotoxic substances (phenolic compounds and organic acids); and proposes some insights into further research directions. By consolidating insights from these studies, this review aims to deepen our understanding of phytotoxicity and its implications, and offer valuable references and guidance for future research endeavors and practical applications.