The influence of heat treatment type on the fat component and heterocyclic aromatic amines formation in minced poultry meat products

In this study the influence of heat treatment type on the change in the fatty acid composition, indices and parameters of fat oxidation, the level of heterocyclic amines formation in the chopped poultry ready-to-eat products enriched with ω‑3 fatty acids and an antioxidant complex were studied. The composition of ingredients and recipes of ready-to-eat products are developed with consideration of the medical and biological requirements for the diets of oncological patients. These ready-to-eat products feature some antioxidant substances in their composition that can bind free radicals, and provide for a reduction in the risk of carcinogens formation during the manufacturing process. The heat treatment was run in several ways, also called as modes — cooking in a microwave oven (MW), cooking in a convection oven in the “convection” mode with preliminary short-term roasting, steam cooking. For comparison, the conventional, i. e. not enriched food sample was used as a control one. The introduction of ω‑3 fatty acids into the food formulation made it possible to change the fatty acid composition towards increasing the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). It was found that the profile of fatty acids was influenced by both the ingredients of the product and the type of its heat treatment. The joint use of a PUFA source and a complex of antioxidants made it possible to obtain a ready-to-eat product with a high level of ω‑3; and to ensure the ratio of ω‑6 group acids: ω‑3 ratio amounts to 1–2:1. Heat treatment of enriched semi-finished products by microwave cooking and by steam cooking showed a lesser effect on the change in the content and composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids — the loss of fatty acids was 1.2% and 2.8%, respectively, while in the “convection” cooking mode with preliminary roasting this loss was equal to 3.5%. It was found that the antioxidant complex in the composition of the food product and gentle heat treatment methods cause less lipid peroxidation and the formation of carcinogenic heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAA) during the food manufacturing process.