A validated multi-matrix platform for metabolomic fingerprinting of human urine, feces and plasma using ultra-high performance liquid-chromatography coupled to hybrid orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry.

In recent years, metabolomics has surfaced as an innovative research strategy in human metabolism, whereby selection of the biological matrix and its inherent metabolome is of crucial importance. However, focusing on a single matrix may imply that relevant molecules of complementary physiological pathways, covered by other matrices, are missed. To address this problem, this study presents a unique multi-matrix platform for polar metabolic fingerprinting of feces, plasma and urine, applying ultra-high performance liquid-chromatography coupled to hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry, that is able to achieve a significantly higher coverage of the system's metabolome and reveal more significant results and interesting correlations in comparison with single-matrix analyses.

Sensory evaluation of boar meat products by trained experts.

Rearing entire male pigs, one of the alternatives for surgical castration, entails the possible occurrence of boar taint. This study aimed at the investigation of the acceptability of meat from entire male pigs in 8 different meat products (cutlets, bacon, blade loin, tenderloin, dry fermented sausage, cooked ham, dry-cured ham and minced meat) by trained assessors. Generally, the sensory evaluation of meat samples was affected the most in the androstenone (AEON) group, indicating that AEON is the most offensive boar taint compound for sensitive assessors.

Sensory evaluation of boar-taint-containing minced meat, dry-cured ham and dry fermented sausage by a trained expert panel and consumers.

One of the main issues related to entire male pigs is the occurrence of boar taint, an off-odour, which compromises meat consumability. In this study, odour thresholds (indole: 24-65µgkg, skatole: 44-89µgkg, androstenone: 121-342µgkg) for the boar taint compounds were estimated in minced meat, dry fermented sausage and dry-cured ham. Afterwards, sensory evaluation of these products containing 10% tainted meat (minced meat and dry fermented sausage) or moderate boar taint compound levels (dry-cured ham) occurred.

Rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry for high-throughput screening in food analysis: The case of boar taint.

Boar taint is a contemporary off-odor present in meat of uncastrated male pigs. As European Member States intend to abandon surgical castration of pigs by 2018, this off-odor has gained a lot of research interest. In this study, rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) was explored for the rapid detection of boar taint in neck fat.

Rapid method for the simultaneous detection of boar taint compounds by means of solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Because of animal welfare issues, the voluntary ban on surgical castration of male piglets, starting January 2018 was announced in a European Treaty. One viable alternative is the fattening of entire male pigs. However, this can cause negative consumer reactions due to the occurrence of boar taint and possibly lead to severe economic losses in pig husbandry.

Development and validation of a UHPLC-HR-Orbitrap-MS method for the simultaneous determination of androstenone, skatole and indole in porcine meat and meat products.

Boar taint is an off-odour that entails negative consumer reactions. In this study two extraction and UHPLC-HRMS analysis methods, valuable for evaluation of consumer acceptance towards boar meat, were developed for quantification of indole, skatole, and androstenone in different meat products. Sample pretreatment consisted of extraction with methanol and a homogenising step (cooked ham, minced meat, tenderloin, bacon, cutlets, blade loin, uncooked ham) or a melting step (salami sausage and liver paste).