071208 Grape Seed Extract Could Preserve Meat

Urbana, IL - Grape seed extract has been dubbed Mother Nature's preservative by a U.S. researcher who finds it outperforms synthetic preservatives.

The study, published in the Journal of Food Science, found grape seed extract is a viable natural alternative to synthetic ingredients that preserve meat quality in precooked ready-to-eat meals.

"I really think grape seed extract is a viable, natural way to preserve meat quality in the precooked entrees that are so popular now," study leader Susan Brewer, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said in a statement. "And, when companies can use the word natural on a label, it's attractive to consumers. It takes some of the guilt out of using a convenience food."

The meat treated with grape seed extract was evaluated for oxidative markers and sensory attributes by a 10-member panel and the higher concentration of grape seed extract yielded better results than the meat with synthetics. Brewer said this "is certainly not what you'd expect -- synthetics, like BHA, BHT and TBHQ after all, have been engineered to maximize effectiveness, but sometimes Mother Nature comes up with a better product."

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