Summary Wooden breast (WB) abnormalities of broilers compromise the quality of fresh and processed meat. Yet, no standardised classification method for evaluating WB currently exists. We here provide a novel classification method to determine the severity of WB by palpation. Data were evaluated by one‐way anova. The classification method proved robust and reliable to classify broiler filets into three distinct categories (no, moderate and severe WB). This was supported by histological findings, demonstrating less muscle tissue in WB‐affected samples. Moreover, moisture content, resistance to compression, mobile water fraction, drip loss and cooking loss, as well as intramuscular and surface pH also increased with WB. Using the classification method, we demonstrated that severe WB increased the diversity of the endogenous microflora and promoted growth of Enterobacteriaceae. In conclusion, the presented classification method correlates with known meat quality traits and will be a valuable tool for future studies on WB.

Fermentation is an ancient technique for preserving food and feed, and for moderating taste and texture of foods. Fermentation of seaweeds for generating novel food products has yet only been described for few red algae. Here, sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) was heat-treated and fermented using lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Taste, smell and texture of the fermented product was compared to fresh sugar kelp and two commercial seaweed products (nori and wakame). Tissue contents of dry matter, nitrogen, mannitol, and selected minerals and trace metals of the fresh and fermented sugar kelp were quantified and compared. In the fermentation process, the pH was reduced to 4.5 within 40 h, with LAB counts increasing 100-fold and no Bacillus cereus present. Heat-treatment and fermentation caused a reduced saltiness and umami flavour of the sugar kelp, a less slimy visual appearance and a reduced smell of sea, whereas the texture and protein content was unchanged compared to the fresh sugar kelp. The fermented sugar kelp had a stronger bite than nori and wakame, a stronger smell of sea and a more salty, irony and umami rich taste than nori, but less umami and salt taste than wakame. The fermentation process reduced the contents of sodium (− 15%), cadmium (− 35%) and mercury (− 37%) in the sugar kelp. LAB fermentation of sugar kelp showed promising for broadening the food market for seaweeds as the fermented product had a milder taste, improved visual impression and smell, and a reduced content of harmful trace metals.

Food producers of today are met with inherently contradictory demands as seen from a microbiological point of view: producing foods that are less stable (due to nutritional and taste requirements) by processes that confer less control of the detrimental microflora (due to trends of convenience, minimal processing, and reducing or removing additives including preservatives). How should food producers manage to develop such products with a sufficiently long shelf-life and at a competitive price? Some of the most promising tools to this end are the so-called biopreservatives, which are various types of products derived from lactic acid bacteria and other suitable microorganisms, namely bacteriocins and other antimicrobials, fermentates, bioprotective cultures, and bacteriophages. This chapter provides an overview of the scientific background and functionality, as well as food applications and further commercial aspects of each of these categories of biopreservatives.