METHOD OF PROCESSING MEAT AND PRODUCTS MADE THEREFROM

Abstract: Method for lowering fat and cholesterol levels in meat comprising the steps of (a) exposing a thin layer of meat to ultraviolet light. (b) comminuting said meat in a chilled bowl with the addition of a quantity of iced water, edible acid, salt and food phosphates until a quantity of fat and cholesterol separate from the meat emulsion and adheres to the inner surface of the cold bowl. The present invention also relates to a meat product free of added carbohydrates, artificial colourings and artificial preservatives wherein the fat portion is reduced to 1-2% and the cholesterol portion is reduced by 10-60% from the levels present in the trimmed meat.

Description: METHOD OF PROCESSING MEAT AND PRODUCTS MADE THEREFROM The present invention relates to a commercially viable method for extracting a substantial portion of the fat and cholesterol components from meat; and to meat products produced by such method. Medical research has shown that an over consumption of fats and cholesterol in the diet can contribute to heart disease, obesity and other ailments. In response, the public has to an extent turned away from the consumption of red meat to alternative sources of protein such as to be found in white meats or vegetable proteins. Present smallgoods such as sausages and hamburger meat are high in fat and cholesterol and are generally not recommended for persons suffering from heart disease obesity,, and-other-ailments-. The present invention seeks to substantially overcome the problems now associated with a diet high in fats and cholesterol by providing a meat product having substantially reduced portions of fat and cholesterol than presently available in meat products and to a method of making such a meat product. By the method of the present invention it is possible to produce meat products free of carbohydrates, artificial colourings and artificial preservatives; ideally suited for general consumption. In addition it has been found that when mutton is treated by the method of the present invention it is rendered acceptable to persons who previously had rejected mutton because of its characteristic smell and taste. In one broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for extracting a substantial portion of the fat and cholesterol components from meat comprising the steps of: (a) exposing a thin layer of meat to ultraviolet light. (b) comminuting said meat in a chilled bowl with the addition of a quantity of iced water, edible acid, salt and food phosphates until a quantity of fat and cholesterol separate from the meat emulsion and adheres to the inner surface of the cold bowl. Preferably the meat is minced and loosely packed on a tray to a maximum thickness of 25mm. Preferably the bowl is kept at a temperature of -10° to +10°C, between 1 and 5 litres of iced water, 50-100 gm acetic acid, 100-200 g s salt (Nace) and 20-50 gm EMELKUT (Trade name) (edible phosphates) are added during the comminuting step for every 10kg of trimmed meat. In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a meat product free of added carbohydrates, artificial colourings and artificial preservatives wherein the fat portion is reduced to 1-2% and the cholesterol portion-is -reduced-by—10=60%-fxOm-the.levels- - present in the trimmed meat. Examples of an edible acid are acetic acid and citric acid. The present invention will be further described by reference to the following non-limiting examples. Three 10kg samples of fresh raw minced mutton were taken after boning and trimming but before any further processing took place. Sample 1 was left as a standard Sample 2 was then treated as in Example 1 Sample 3 was then treated as in Example 2 Example 1 A single low intensity ultraviolet germicidal lamp ■ of 2220 microwatts/cm2 at 25mm rating, catalogue number G24T7H was used and a tray of loosely packed meat of maximum thickness 25mm, spread out on a metal tray 28cm x 50cm, was placed 75mm below the lamp. The long axis of the tray was under the lamp and the meat was exposed to the ultraviolet lamp for 12 hours. The meat sample 2 was.placed in a rotating bowl ("silent cutter") previously chilled to 3θc. 3.5 litres of iced water and 50 gm of acetic acid were added to solubilize the globulin and the meat emulsion comminuted for about 2 minutes. A lOOgm of salt and 25 gm of a food phosphate EMELKUT (Trade name) (a mixture of sodium tripolyphosphate, tetra sodium pyro phosphate and meta phosphate) were then added to solubilize the meat protein and to enhance the self binding properties of the meat mass and the mixture comminuted for a further three minutes. Fat and water insoluble vitamin D3 adhered to the inner surface of the bowl and the meat mass was removed. Example 2 Three high intensity ultraviolet ger icidal lamps of 8350 microwatts/cm2 at 25mm rating, catalogue number G36T15N were spaced, at 150mm centres, 60mm above a loosely packed layer of meat of maximum thickness ' 25mm spread out-on a- etal—tray — he- ultr-avi let-lamps-were.- enclosed in a reflective metal shield (60cm x ilOcm x 10cm) and formed an enclosed metal chamber with the meat tray. The meat was exposed to the ultraviolet lamps for six minutes. The meat sample (3) was placed in a rotating bowl ("silent cutter") and comminuted with the same addition of iced water, acetic acid, salt and . EMELKUT as set out in Example 1 above. It was found that the temperature of the meat rose 4-5oc during the commminuting step and partly for this reason the bowl is kept cold. Later tests showed that when meat was treated at ambient temperature (25θC) it failed to self-bind and the meat juices ran out during cooking. The extracted fats and converted cholesterol products can be scraped from the inner surface of the container and discarded. Samples 2 and 3 were taken from the meat mass following the comminuting step and their fat and cholesterol levels were analysed and compared with the levels of fat and cholesterol in the untreated Sample 1 as set out below in Table 1. TABLE I Moisture Fat Ash Pjrotein Cholesterol Total Energ % m/m % m/m % m/m :% m/m mg/100 Kilojoules/10 Leg Lamb * 64.0 18.0 - 18.0 70 - Sample 1 74.5 5.1 1.0 19.3 66 380 1 Sample 2 81.5 0.8 2.0 15.4 46 291 1 Sample 3 75.1 1.5 1.1 22.2 45 311 Total energy = % FAT X 37 + % PROTEIN X 17 Kilojoules/lOOgm Taken from Geigy Scientific Tables ι The method of the present ivention was then tested on Smallgoods:- Bologna, English sausages and Round Steak (hamburger meat) and the results are set out in Table 2. TABLE 2 (Geigy Scientific Tables) % crude K cal K joule fat Bologna 27.50 304 1270 (standard) Treated by the method of 1.19 71 297 the present invention I English Sausage 32.10 372 1560 (standard) Treated by the method of 1.00 82 Ξ.40 the present invention % Cholesterol Round Steak (Standard) 19.50 196 820 0.12 Treated by the method of 0.40 73 309 0.021 the present invention It can be seen from Tables 1 and 2 that the method of the present invention is effective in substantially reducing the portions of fat and cholesterol in meat and in addition lowering the level. It has been found over a number of tests on different kinds of meat that the fat level in meats after trimming can be reduced to 1-2% and the cholesterol level reduced by a further 10-60% from the levels present in the trimmed meat. The meat product of the present invention requires no added starch binder to hold it together and can be formed into smallgoods hamburger steaks, rib eye, cutlets and schnitzels. Additional flavourings in the form of spices can be added during the comminuting step so that the meat product can be directly formed into smallgoods. The ultraviolet rays act to convert the cholesterol to a precursor 7 dehydrocalciferol by a balanced reversible reaction,- and.the ,by- a- balanced-reversible heat reaction to a vitamin D3 cholecalciferol component into insoluble vitamin D3. Whilst the process is not fully understood, scientific opinion suggests that the binding and smooth texture of meat products formed by exposure of the meat to ultraviolet light is due to polymerisation of the unsaturated fats and fatty acids caused by free radicles generated by the ultraviolet light which is similar to polyme isation of acrylics and vinyl compounds. The creation of free radicles stops immediately the ultraviolet light is switched off. Free radicles have an incredibly short life,, (about a nanosecond) , and recombine to form normal valencies or rearrange to form a more stable molecule the route of which is regulated by stability of intermediates, and the smallest energy steps possible. It will be understood that modifications to the method can be made for example the intensity of the ultraviolet rays, their height above the layer of meat, the period of time of exposure of the meat to ultraviolet rays, the thickness of the meat, whether the meat is minced or thinly sliced, the type of edible acid used and the quantity of water, edible acid, salt and edible phosphates used can all be varied, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The method of the present invention is applicable to the processing of meats of ovine, bovine and swine as well as poultry and sea food. In addition it has been calculated that mass processing of meat on a moveable conveyor would be possible using a bank of high intensity ultraviolet lamps of 8350 microwatts/cm 2 at 25mm rating, catalogue number G48T15N, positioned at 60mm centres in individual reflectors so as to fully cover a layer of loosely packed meat of maximum thickness 25mm spread out on a tray. The lamps being placed 25mm above the layer of meat and the meat exposed to the lamps for three minutes.

Claims: 1. A method for extracting a substantial portion of the fat and cholesterol components from meat comprising the steps of: (a) exposing a thin layer of meat to ultraviolet light. (b) comminuting said meat in a chilled bowl with the addition of a quantity of iced water, edible acid, salt and food phosphates until a quantity of fat and cholesterol separate from the meat emulsion and adheres to the inner surface of the cold bowl. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said bowl is kept at a temperature of -10θC to +10OC; between 1 and 5 litres of iced water; 50-100gm of edible acid; 100-200gm salt and 20-50gm edible phosphates are added during the comminuting step for every 10kg of trimmed meat used. 3. A method as- claimed in claim- 1 or 2 wherein-the layer of meat is of 25mm maximum thickness. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the ultraviolet light is of low intensity. 5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the ultraviolet light is of high intensity. 6. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the edible acid is acetic acid. 7. A meat product produced by the method of claims 1 or 2. 8. A meat product free of added carbohydrates, artificial colourings and artificial preservatives wherein the fat portion is reduced to 1-2% and the cholesterol portion is reduced by 10-60% from the levels present in the trimmed meat. 9. A method for extracting a substantial portion of the fat and cholesterol components from meat substantially as herein described.

Inventors: CHAPMAN DALLAS VARNEY, CHAPMAN, DALLAS, VARNEY
Applicants: CHAPMAN DALLAS VARNEY, CHAPMAN, DALLAS, VARNEY
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A23L1
IPC codes: A23L1, C11B1