Effect of sodium ascorbate dose on the shelf life stability of reduced nitrite liver pâtés

The effect of sodium ascorbate (SA; 500, 750, 1000 mg/kg) and sodium nitrite (SN; 40, 80, 120 mg/kg) doses on the shelf-life stability of liver pâtés was investigated in a full factorial design. Clear dose-dependent responses of the added SN or SA were found for the concentrations of nitrite, ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid in the raw batters and in the cooked pâtés before and after 48 h of chilled display. Decreasing the SN dose to 80 mg/kg had no negative impact on the colour stability (a* value) and lipid oxidation (TBARS), and no additional antioxidant effect of SA was noticed. Lowering SN to 40 mg/kg resulted in proper colour formation, but the colour stability was inferior and lipid oxidation increased. Yet, increasing the amount of SA, at this low SN dose, resulted in lower TBARS values. Decreasing the SN dose to 80 or 40 mg/kg had no distinct effect on protein oxidation, which was however only measured by carbonyl content.

► In liver pâté, the use of sodium nitrite may be lowered to 80 mg/kg.
► With 80 mg/kg sodium nitrite, sodium ascorbate shows no antioxidant effect.
► Lowering to 40 mg/kg sodium nitrite negatively affected colour and lipid stability.
► With 40 mg/kg sodium nitrite, sodium ascorbate improves the oxidative stability.
► Lowering the sodium nitrite dose had no distinct effect on protein oxidation.