The influence of drying and ripeninig conditions (traditional and industrial) in the production of dry fermented sausage Petrovsk? klob?sa, on fatty-acid composition and oxidative changes in lipids, during 7 months of storage, was investigated. During the storage period, the sum of unsaturated fatty acids and the content of free fatty acids were significantly higher (p<0.05), while the content of malondialdehyde was significantly lower in the sausage subjected to traditional conditions of drying and ripening. At the end of the storage period, contents of pentanal and hexanal in the sausage subjected to traditional conditions of drying and ripening (4.03 ?g/g and 1.67 ?g/g, respectively) were significantly lower (p<0.05) in comparison with these contents in the sausage subjected to industrial conditions of drying and ripening. Traditional conditions of drying and ripening at lower temperatures have led to lower oxidative changes in lipids in traditional dry fermented sausage Petrovsk? klob?sa during storage period.

Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) essential oil (DEO) obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and lipid extracts (DSE₁ and DSE₂) obtained by supercritical CO₂ extraction (SFE) were used as potential antioxidants and antimicrobial agents in beef burgers at two different concentrations (0.075 and 0.15 µL/g). The chemical profile of the lipid extracts and their in vitro antimicrobial activity against the common pathogens E. coli and L. monocytogenes (MIC and MBC) were determined. The quality and shelf life of the burgers were monitored through (lipid oxidation—TBARS test; protein oxidation—thiol group content and selected biogenic amine content) and microbiological quality (Enterobacteriaceae—EB, aerobic mesophilic bacteria—TAMB, lactic acid bacteria—LAB). Dill lipid extracts (DEO and DSE₁) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced lipid oxidation and protein oxidation in beef burgers, while the lipid extract (DSE₂) showed pro-oxidative effects. The strongest antimicrobial potential against EB was found in SFE₁150 (1.15 log cfu/g). Putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, and tyramine were not detected in any of the analyzed samples during the storage period, while the total content of biogenic amines ranged from 21.4 mg/kg to 285 mg/kg. Generally, it can be concluded that dill essential oil (DEO) and extract DSE₁ can be used as novel natural additives in minced-meat products.

Chitosan, the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature, after cellulose, has been tested for numerous applications, among which for edible film and coating. Chitosan-based coating showed positive results for shelf life prolongation of meet products. In this paper, dry fermented sausage (Petrovsk? klob?sa) was coated with chitosan-caraway film. The effect of coating on the moisture content, color and lipid oxidation was investigated during a fivemonth period of storage. The moisture content decreased rapidly during the storage and the coating did not slow down the loss of moisture. The Lightness (L*) of the sausage surface increased by the coating application, while the redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) did not change. The coated sausages showed a better color stability of the sausage core through the storage time. Also, coated sausage showed a better oxidative stability till the 60th day of storage, while this difference was not detected at the end of the storage period. Apart from slowing down sausage drying during the storage, chitosan-caraway coating was effective in preserving the sausage quality.

The effect of vacuum packaging on colour (instrumental and sensory characteristics) of dry fermented sausage (Petrovská klobása) during storage period was examined. Sausages were dried under controlled conditions and stored unpacked (C) or packed under vacuum (V). The instrumental colour characteristics (CIE L*a*b* system: lightness – L*; redness – a*; yellowness – b*; hue angle – h and chroma – C*), sensory evaluation of colour, pH, water activity and moisture content were determined at the end of the drying period (day 0 of storage) and after 30 and 60 days of storage. Vacuum packed sausages had significantly (P0.05). Sausages packed under vacuum had significantly higher (P<0.05) a* value on day 30 of storage and significantly higher (P<0.05) L* value on day 60 of storage compared with unpacked sausages. Also, on both examined storage days, the colour of vacuum packed sausages was more acceptable sensorially than that of unpacked sausages. According to the results obtained in this study, vacuum packaging had a positive impact on colour characteristics (instrumental and sensory) of dry fermented sausages produced in controlled conditions.

This study examined the safety of meat products from north Serbia (Vojvodina), smoked in traditional conditions, from a PAH point of view, and assessed the possibility of their reduction in these types of products. Samples of dry cured meat products, bacons and dry fermented sausages smoked in six different chambers on the territory of Vojvodina were examined. The contents of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency list (16 US-EPA PAHs), and sensory quality of meat products were determined. The total content of 16 US-EPA PAHs in dry cured meat products was in the range from 99.73 μg/kg to 412.76 μg/kg; in bacons it was in the range from 36.43 μg/kg to 188.86 μg/kg; and in dry fermented sausages in the range from 47.23 μg/kg to 270.60 μg/kg. The lowest contents of 16 US-EPA PAHs compounds were determined in meat products smoked in traditional conditions during 3–5 days (3–4 h per day) at a distance of 2.5 m between the fire and products. Generally, it can be concluded that shortening of smoking process is justified, because products of good sensory quality and with decreased content of PAHs compounds were obtained. Benzo[a]pyrene, whose maximum allowed content in smoked meat products is 2 μg/kg, was below the limit of detection in all examined traditional meat products from Vojvodina. Also, contents of PAH4, sum of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[b]fluoranthene, were in the range from ND to 2.22 μg/kg, still greatly lower than the set maximum value. These results indicated the safety of dry cured meat products, bacons and dry fermented sausages from the territory of north Serbia (Vojvodina), as defined by EU Regulation 2023/915 criteria for PAHs contents.