Chinese Herbal Extracts often contain antibacterial and antioxidant active ingredients. This has a certain inhibitory effect on the spoilage and deterioration of meat and meat products, and can significantly prolong the storage period of meat products. It can even improve the nutritional and health value of food.
Natural Preservatives Benefits
The traditional addition of synthetic antioxidants inhibits the depletion and destruction of meat nutrients by pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. But these ingredients are prone to cancer or cause allergic reactions. In recent years, natural products of plant origin have been widely used, especially in the field of food preservatives.
Food processed by using natural antibacterial agents instead of traditional preservation techniques is more suitable for people's needs for naturalness, health and nutrition. The application of Chinese herbal medicine extracts in meat and meat products preservation has the characteristics of wide sources, high activity, good safety, wide practicability, and environmental protection. The antioxidant and antibacterial effects of active ingredients have significant advantages in the storage and preservation of meat and meat products. And a low concentration or a small amount of active substances can have a significant effect on the protection of meat.
Types of Herbal Extracts Preservation
Chinese herbal extracts are mainly used as food ingredients, extracts as packaging ingredients (such as fresh-keeping film/film) and attached to food packaging in the form of sachets.
1. Extracts as food ingredients
Pomegranate peel extract contains a lot of tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids and other substances, and has a certain antioxidant capacity. The pomegranate peel extract can effectively inhibit the fat oxidation and protein oxidation during the cold storage of raw meat patties, and the higher the mass fraction of the pomegranate peel extract, the better the inhibition effect.
Chrysanthemum is a new type of antioxidant in the meat industry with strong antioxidant activity. It contains gallocatechin, apigenin, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, rhamnetin, quercetin, etc. It can be used as a natural antioxidant in the development and production of functional foods.
2. Extract as a packaging ingredient
Medicinal plant extracts can be used as ingredients for making packaging films for wrapping or laminating food. The antibacterial edible film achieves the purpose of bacteriostatic isolation and freshness preservation through the slow release of antibacterial substances. The most critical function of edible films for meat is the sustained release of antimicrobial agents.
Summary
Using plant extracts as a source of bioactive compounds is becoming an effective way to improve the quality of meat and meat products, prolong their storage period and increase added value. Chinese herbal extracts are rich in a variety of active ingredients and are increasingly used in the meat industry.