Sodium lactate was added to fresh pork sausage to determine its effect on refrigerated storage of chubs and retail display of patties. An additional treatment evaluated effects of sodium lactate in fresh sausage with added textured soy concentrate. In fresh sausage stored as 4548 chubs, surface discoloration was reduced (PcO.01) and off-odor development abated (PcO.01) with addition of sodium lactate. The lag phase of microbial growth was extended from 10 to 20 days with sodium lactate. Under retail conditions, sodium lactate did not affect lean color (P>O.Ol) but resulted in more rapid surface discoloration (PcO.01). Presence of textured soy concentrate decreased (PcO.01) effectiveness of sodium lactate against microorganisms.

Combination hams were prepared by injecting deboned ham muscles with brines containing solubilized isolated soy protein. The muscles were injected to levels of 30%, 45% or 60%, and then subjected to either 0 hr or 18 hr of intermittent massaging. The effects of massaging, isolated soy protein, and the level of injection on binding strengths, cooking yields and taste-panel scores were examined. Massaging and isolated soy protein improved both binding strength and cooking yield. increasing levels of injection decreased binding strength and cooking yield. Massaging improved uniformity, textural appeal, and overall acceptability, but decreased tenderness and did not affect juiciness and flavor.

Combination hams were prepared by injecting excised porcine muscles with a brine containing solubilized isolated soy protein. The microstructure of the muscle in the combination ham was compared to that of a water added ham to determine the location of the isolated soy protein. The effect of ma&aging on the location of the isolated soy protein was also studied. The results showed that the isolated soy protein occupied primarily perimysial spaces and the massaging acts to incorporate these proteins into the endomysial spaces and mix them with extracted myofibrillar proteins. The isolated soy protein appeared to enhance myofibrillar protein extraction by binding water, thus increasing the effective concentration of salt and phosphate. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the gel formed by the isolated soy protein possessed a denser structure than the gel formed by a crude myosin preparation. The gel formed by a mixture of myosin and isolated soy protein possessed a structure more comparable to the structure of the crude myosin gel.