Shirring composition and applications thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for shirring artificial casings which allows conferring the casing with a high capacity to cling to the meat paste stuffed therein. The composition of the invention includes at least one heat curable polycationic resinous component, a polyolic component and water, wherein the water activity (aw) index has a value greater than or equal to 0.70. A casing impregnated by said composition, the meat product stuffed in said casing and the method for impregnating the casing with the composition of the invention is also contemplated.

Claims

1. A shirring composition for high meat cling of artificial casings comprising one heat curable polycationic resinous component, a polyolic component, inorganic or organic metal alkalis and their salts for pH adjustment and water, wherein the water activity (a.sub.w) index has a value greater than or equal to 0.70, and the pH of the composition is between 7 and 10.

2. The shirring composition according to claim 1 further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of proteins, food grade substances with lubricating action, emulsifier, moisturizer, antioxidant and preservative, bactericide, fungicide and fungal growth inhibitor, flavoring, colorant, and combinations thereof.

3. The shirring composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat curable polycationic resinous component is present in a proportion comprised between 0.01 and 15% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition.

4. The shirring composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat curable polycationic resinous component comprises a mixture of two or more heat curable polycationic resins.

5. The shirring composition according to claim 1, wherein the heat curable polycationic resinous component is selected from the group consisting of resins derived from the polymeric reaction of epichlorohydrin and a polyamide, a polyethyleneimine, a polyamidoamine, and resins derived from the condensation of a polyalkylene-polyamine with dicarboxylic acids.

6. The shining composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the polyolic component is present in a proportion comprised between 18 and 65% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition.

7. The shirring composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the polyolic component is glycerol or propylene glycol.

8. The shirring composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the polyolic component is a mixture of two or more polyols.

9. The shirring composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the a.sub.w has a value comprised between 0.70 and 0.95.

10. The shining composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional components can be present up to 10% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition.

11. An artificial casing impregnated with the shirring composition of claim 1.

12. The artificial casing according to claim 11, characterized in that the distribution by weight of the resinous component on the surface of said casing is at least 0.005 mg/dm.sup.2.

13. The artificial casing according to claim 12, characterized in that the distribution by weight of the resinous component on the surface of said casing is comprised between 0.04 and 3 mg/dm.sup.2.

14. The artificial casing according to claim 11, characterized in that it is a cellulose casing.

15. A meat product stuffed in the artificial casing according to claim 11.

16. A method for impregnating an artificial casing with a shirring composition according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) obtaining a shirring composition according to claim 1, and b) spraying the casing during the shirring process thereof with the composition obtained in a).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein after step b), the sprayed casing is subjected to a tempering period of between 5 minutes and 1 hour at temperature of between 70 and 120 C.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein after step b), the sprayed casing is subjected to a tempering period of between 12 hours and 5 days at a temperature of between 30 C. and 70 C.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the casing used in b) is of a caliber less than 36 mm.

20. A shirred artificial casing obtained by the method of claim 16.

21. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the polyolic component is present in a proportion comprised between 40 and 60% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition.

22. The composition according to claim 9, wherein the a.sub.w has a value comprised between 0.82 and 0.92.

23. The artificial casing according to claim 13, wherein the distribution by weight of the heat curable polycationic resinous component on the surface of said casing is comprised between 0.05 and 2.4 mg/dm.sup.2.

24. The artificial casing according to claim 13, wherein the distribution by weight of the heat curable polycationic resinous component on the surface of said casing is comprised between 0.1 and 1 mg/dm.sup.2.

25. The method according to claim 18, wherein after step b), the sprayed casing is subjected to a tempering period of three days at a temperature of between 35 C.

26. The method according to claim 18, wherein after step b), the sprayed casing is subjected to a tempering period of 24 hours at a temperature of between 40 C.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows the staining of the heat curable polycationic resin present on the inner surface of a cellulose casing with Coomassie blue. (1.a) Without coating, (1.b) coating by means of viscose injection, (1.c) coating by means of bubble method and (1.d) coating by means of adding the composition of the invention in shirring.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the clinging capacity according to the pH of the composition of the invention.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

(3) The main object of the present invention is a composition for use during the shirring of artificial casings which allows conferring the casing a high capacity to cling to the meat paste stuffed therein.

(4) Another object of the present invention is an artificial casing impregnated with the shirring composition of the invention.

(5) Another object of the invention is a meat product stuffed in an artificial casing impregnated with the composition of the invention.

(6) Another object of the invention is a method for impregnating an artificial casing with the shirring composition of the present invention.

(7) Finally, another object of the invention is the shirred casing obtained by the method of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) Based on the needs of the state of the art, the author of the present invention have sought to develop a composition capable of conferring the artificial casings a high capacity to cling to the meat paste or product stuffed therein, eliminating the complicated use of the bubble commonly used for applying additives providing the casing meat cling effect, but without modifying the rest of the processes leading to the manufacture of finished cellulose casing or tube for the purpose of not introducing technological risks nor new cost elements.

(9) To cover these needs, a main aspect of the invention contemplates a shirring composition for shirring artificial casings comprising at least one heat curable polycationic resinous component, a polyolic component and water, wherein the water activity (aw) index has a value greater than or equal to 0.70.

(10) In the present invention, a shirring composition is defined as that additive composition for spraying the casing in shirring step.

(11) Likewise, shirring step is defined as the step in which the casing is sprayed and folded over itself to form sticks. The casing is then packed and sold among meat producers who receive same in a ready-to-stuff form.

(12) Artificial casings are defined as artificial coverings for stuffed products, either cellulose casings, reinforced or non-reinforced casings, as well as plastic casings and, by extension, coverings made of other materials such as proteins and other polysaccharides. In a preferred embodiment, the artificial casing is a cellulose casing.

(13) Heat curable polycationic resinous component is understood as a polyamide water dispersible synthetic cationic polymer of polyamide-, polyamidoamine-, polyethyleneimine-, vinylamine- or N-vinylformamide-type, capable of passing to a crosslinked and heat stable solid state, in principle, by means of heat application.

(14) In a particular embodiment, the heat curable polycationic resinous component present in the composition of the invention is in a proportion comprised between the 0.01 and 15% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition.

(15) In another particular embodiment, the heat curable polycationic resinous component comprises a mixture of two or more heat curable polycationic resins.

(16) In preferred embodiments, the selected heat curable polycationic resins belong to the group of those obtained from condensing epichlorohydrin with a polyamide or a polyamidoamine derived from the polymeric reaction between a polyalkylene-polyamine and dicarboxylic acids, preferably saturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids of between 3 and 8 carbon atoms, such as malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, as well as diglycolic acid. Among the polyalkylene polyamines used are polyethylene-polyamines, polypropylene-polyamines and polybutylene-polyamines. A preferred cationic resin can be, for example, the reaction product between epichlorohydrin and a polyamide formed by the reaction of diethylene-triamine (deta) and adipic acid, glutaric acid or succinic acid. Other preferred polycationic resins can also be those belonging to the group of polyethylene-imines and their products of condensation with epichlorohydrin. These resins are easily dispersible in water, therefore depending on the richness of the resin dispersion, the shirring composition of the invention can be contemplated with the necessary amount of water.

(17) In the composition of the invention, the polyolic component content is dependent on the water and resin content thereof. In a particular embodiment, the polyolic component is present in a proportion comprised between 18 and 65% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition, preferably between 40 and 60%.

(18) The proportion of the polyolic component content in the present shirring composition is much greater than that of the compositions used for the resinous coatings applied by means of the bubble method, in which the proportion of water is much higher. The polyolic component, in addition to being a lubricant, acts as a retarder delaying water intake by the casing, which is extraordinarily hygroscopic, particularly in the case of cellulose. A quick wall hydration increases the cling between the sleeve and the casing which obstructs the sliding thereof of the casing during shirring. The presence of polyolic component reduces water activity (aw) of the composition, making water less available for hydrating the wall of the casing.

(19) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polyolic component used in the composition is glycerol, although other polyols which include, by way of example but without limitaton to same, propylene glycol, sorbitol or triethylene glycol, which can be combined with one another and with glycerol, can be used.

(20) In a preferred embodiment, the water activity caused by the polyol/water mixture for attaining the optimum effects of the resin is at a value comprised between 0.70 and 0.95, and more preferably in a range comprised between 0.82 and 0.92.

(21) On the other hand, the pH of the composition is set to a specific value for the purpose of modulating the degree of meat casing cling, the preferred range being 7 to 10, by means of an alkaline metal hyroxide preferably NaOH, or a buffer solution.

(22) In a particular embodiment, the shirring composition of the present invention can include other additional components or additives capable of providing various functionalities. These additives are selected from proteins, groups of food grade substances acting as lubricant, emulsifier, moisturizer, antioxidant and preservative, bactericide, fungicide or bacterial and fungal growth inhibitor, flavoring, colorant, agents favoring peeling, inorganic or organic metal alkalis and their salts for pH adjustment and combinations thereof (examples of these additives can be found in patents CA 1325131; ES2076904 A1; US2004062888 (A1); U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,833,594; 5,928,738 (A)).

(23) In a preferred embodiment, the additional components can be present up to 10% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition.

(24) Another main aspect of the present invention contemplates a shirred artificial casing impregnated with the shirring composition of the invention.

(25) In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the impregnation of the artificial casing is performed on the inner surface. The invention also contemplates that the impregnation can be performed on the outer face; in this case the casing is preferably turned over before use.

(26) In preferred embodiments, given that the characteristics of the composition of the invention allow the resins to solidify without needing to apply a heating step, the artificial casing of the invention has anchored heat curable polycationic resins which are not cured by heat.

(27) Advantageously, despite of the anchoring of the resin on the casing, the latter is not stuck to itself in the folds of the stick, as could happen after an inherent heat curing process of the resin such as that used in the previous technique as a result of the bubble method. In contrast, the sticks unfold perfectly during the stuffing process without causing any casing defect.

(28) The total content of the resinous component with respect to the total weight of the composition can range between 0.01% and 15%, which is necessary so that, once the casing is sprayed, a ratio by weight of the resin with respect to the dry weight of the casing of between 0.016% and 1.199% is achieved, and more preferably between 0.02% and 0.96%; and the calculation thereof can be carried out experimentally by any person skilled in the art, depending on the type and characteristics of the spraying and shirring device of the shirring machine, as well as on the rheological parameters of the final composition and the dimensions of the casing; such that in a preferred embodiment, the average amount of resin deposited on the surface of the casing is at least 0.005 mg/dm2, preferably between 0.04 mg/dm2 and 3.00 mg/dm2, more preferably between 0.05 mg/dm2 and 2.40 mg/dm2 and particularly between 0.1 mg/dm2 and 1 mg/dm2; whereby excellent results are obtained.

(29) By means of using a staining reagent (Coomassie blue) it is confirmed that the distribution of the coating is not perfectly homogenous although it is distributed on the entire surface of the casing, such that it translates into a visually recognizable pattern of color which is identified with the helical pattern of the folding lines of the casing upon being shirred (FIG. 1; 1.d). This allows clearly differentiating whether the resin was applied before the shirring process, or at the start thereof as described, which entails a commercial advantage by being able to identify the casing with the process. It results in a surprising fact that, despite the fact that the distribution no not completely uniform and homogenous, the meat cling performance is as optimum as that provided by the coatings made by conventional methods.

(30) Another main aspect of the invention contemplates a meat product stuffed in an artificial casing impregnated with the composition of the present invention.

(31) In the present invention, meat product is defined as any food product which contains meat in its composition and which is formed inside a food casing or covering.

(32) Another main aspect of the invention contemplates a method for impregnation an artificial casing with a shirring composition comprising the following steps: a) obtaining the shirring composition defined in the present invention, b) spraying the casing during the shirring process thereof with the composition obtained in a).

(33) The method of the invention allows economically dealing with greater number of calibers (especially low calibers, low calibers being understood as those less than 36 mm) for those applications in which the meat casing cling is essential, and on the other hand, the resulting casings allow shortening some processing cycles of the stuffed products for which they may be intended, although these cycles are more aggressive, thus increasing the product profitability.

(34) Therefore, a particular embodiment of the method of the invention starts from a reel of casing of a caliber less than 36, preferably comprised between 12 and 36 mm. Said casing is placed again in the unwinder of the shirring machine. At the start of the shirring operation, the cellulose tube which is still flattened, is re-opened by introducing therein the distal end of the sleeve, from where it will be sprayed internally with the shirring solution as the casing moves forward towards the take-up rollers.

(35) Given that the resins solidify without needing an additional heating step once the shirring composition is completely absorbed, in preferred embodiments, the casing in the form of shirred sticks is not subjected to an additional curing heat treatment.

(36) Nevertheless, optionally, after step c), the casing already shirred (sticks) and treated with the composition of the invention can be subjected to a tempering period lasting between 5 minutes and 1 hour at temperature of between 70 and 120 C., or between 12 h and 5 days at temperature of between 30 C. and 70 C. and more preferably at 35 C. for 3 days and particularly at 40 C. for 24 h. The casing thus treated increases bursting strength slightly, reducing elongation at the same time.

(37) The shirred casing obtained by the method of the invention is then sent to a meat producer, where it may be stuffed with a meat composition in order to obtain a meat product. Subsequently the stuffed products are processed in any of the conventional manners.

(38) The product obtained by means of the method of the invention has no unacceptable fat separation under the casing. Likewise, by means of a manual peeling operation it is confirmed that the casing has a suitable cling on the entire surface of the meat contacting same.

EXAMPLES

Example I

Comparison of the Performance of a Cellulose Casing Obtained by Means of the Method of the Invention and Those Obtained by Mixing Viscose with a Resin Before Extrusion or by Applying Resin with a Bubble

(39) This test was performed to compare the meat cling behavior of those cellulose casings impregnated by means of the method of the invention using a heat curable polycationic resin in shirring liquid, with or without additional heat treatment, with respect to the conventional alternative of obtaining cured resin by heat, both in the case of the resins injected in viscose before extrusion and in the case of resins applied by means of the bubble method. The heat curable polycationic resin used was provided by the Ashland company marketed under the name Kymene G3-X-CEL, with a dry matter (basically resinous component) content of 16.1%. Post-manufacturing steps were introduced in the manufacture of said polycationic resin to remove AOX consisting of a caustic treatment followed by microbial dehalogenation, converting DCP and CPD into CO.sub.2 and salt, using to that end a mixture of microorganisms isolated from soil which carry out this dehalogenation such as Arthrobacter histidinolovorans and Agrobacterium radiobacter, as described in patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,691 and WO96/40967. The resin concentration in the impregnation liquid was the same in the bubble method and in that of the invention. In the method of viscose injection, 8% resin solution was introduced and, where appropriate, 0.1% protein was introduced with respect to the cellulose content of the casing. In order to assure the curing of the resin applied by means of the method of the invention, some of the impregnated sticks were subjected to a heat hardening process at 120 C. for a period of 60 minutes.

(40) How the presence of proteins influenced the mixture with resin was also to be determined. In this and the other examples, a liquid shirring solution made up 50% water and another 50% glycerol called softener was used as the control. Shirring compositions with protein and without resin were also used.

(41) The different compositions can be seen in Table I, identified with a series of references which can be used for checking the results of the application in stuffing and processing selected meat product (Table IV). The pH of all the formulations was set at 7.0.

(42) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Composition of the shirring additives the amounts of which are expressed in grams G3- Soy protein Reference Additive Water XCEL Supro 248 Pea protein Plasma protein Glycerol M10465 Resin 89.0 186 225 M10466 Resin - Soy 88.2 186 0.83 225 M10467 Resin - Pea 89.0 186 0.83 225 M10468 Resin - Plasma 89.0 186 0.83 225 M10469 Soy 274.2 0.83 225 M10470 Pea 275.0 0.83 225 M10471 Plasma 275.0 0.83 225
Results:

(43) Table IV shows the results of stuffing a meat product prepared according to the formulation of Table II and subjected to the processing cycle described in Table III:

(44) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II Formulation of the meat product INGREDIENTS % SHOULDER 50 BACON 20 RIND EMULSION 4 1:3 TEXTURED SOY 12 WATER 6 SOY ISOLATE 1 CASEINATE 0 SALT 1.8 NITRITE 0.02 GARLIC 0.5 COLORANT 0.02 PAPRIKA 2 DEXTROSE 1 OREGANO 0 CUMIN 0 ASCORBATE 0.05

(45) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE III Processing Conditions of the Meat product NAME OF TEMPERATURE, TIME, STEP C. minutes R.H. % DRYING 65 30 <10% FLAMING 65 5 40-50% SMOKING 65 15 40-50% DRYING2 70 5 <10% COOKING 80 80 >90%

(46) The degree of fat seepage from the meat emulsion subjected to the processing cycle of the stuffed product described in Table III as well as the degree of cling of the casing to the meat emulsion was evaluated.

(47) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE IV Comparison of stuffing results. References with the symbol HH (Heat Hardening) are those subjected to heat curing STUFFING STUFFING DIAMETER DIAMETER FAT DEGREE OF REFERENCE KEY PIECE 1, (mm) PIECE 2 (mm) SEEPAGE CLING M10461 Injection of resin 53.3 52.5/49.5 (4) (0) into viscose M10462 Injection of resin- 53.5 52.5/49 (2) (1) SOY into viscose M10463 Injection of resin- 50 50/48 (3) (1) PLASMA into viscose M10464 CONTROL 51.5/49 48/48 (4) (0) Softener M10465 Resin in shirring 50/49 48.5/49 (0) (4) M10465 HH HH Resin 50/49 49/48.5 (0) (4) (120 C./60 min) M10466 Resin-Soy in 51/48.5 49.5/49.5 (0) (4) shirring M10466 HH HH Resin-Soy 51/49 49.5/48.5 (0) (4) (120 C./60 min) M10467 Resin-Pea in 48.5/47.5 50.5/49.5 (0) (4) shirring M10467 HH HH resin-Pea 51.5/50 50/49 (0) (4) 120 C./60 min M10468 Resin-plasma in 49.5/49 52/49 (0) (4) shirring M10468 HH HH resin-plasma 49/48 50/49 (0) (4) 120 C./60 min M10469 Soy prot. in 51/48.5 48.5/48 (4) (0) shirring M10470 Pea prot. in 48.5/48.5 49/49 (4) (0) shirring M10471 Plasma prot. in 48.5/48.5 50/50.5 (4) (0) shirring M 90937 (Caliber Resin-Soy in 44/43.5 44.5/43.5 (0) (2) 45) bubble Keys to the results: Fat seepage: (0) = nil (1) = low (2) = moderate (3) = high (4) = massive degree of cling: (0) = nil (1) = moderate (2) = notable (3) = high (4) = very high (5) = excessive

(48) When the tables of results show two stuffing diameters, the first one corresponds to the stuffing diameter measured in the lower pole of the hung stuffed piece, and the second one corresponds to the stuffing diameter measured in the upper pole of the hung stuffed piece.

(49) On one hand, the results showed that the presence of resin applied by means of the composition and method of the invention provided the casing with a sufficient capacity to grip to the meat to prevent fat seepage during stuffed product processing, the same as when the bubble solution is applied, whereas the addition of the resin by injection into the viscose did not prevent excessive fat seepage during said processing, even though fat seepage was less when said injection also contained protein. It was also concluded that the presence of proteins along with the resin in the shirring composition was irrelevant in terms of conferring said capacity and that, in any case, the curing of the resin does not have a greater effect with respect to the direct application thereof without heat curing. This indicates that it is not necessary to introduce a new heating step after shirring, which fulfills one of the objectives of the invention. Finally, it was observed that the proteins alone applied by means of the method of the invention were also not efficient in terms of preventing fat seepage, possibly due to not having been anchored to the wall of the casing.

Example II

Effect of Varying the Amount of Resin by Dm2 in the Inner Surface of the Casing

(50) This example was performed using a set of shirring impregnation liquid compositions which exclusively include glycerol and propylene glycol as polyols, resin and water, though the amounts of resin and water were varied. The percentage of the resin solution (containing the heat curable polycationic resinous component) in the compositions ranged between 1% and 37% and in this case heat hardening was not performed. Since the same amount of shirring additive was added to all the samples, the distribution of resin on the inner surface of the casing ranged between 0.08 mg/dm.sup.2 and 2.78 mg/dm.sup.2 (Table V)

(51) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE V Formulations of shirring additive. Amount of ingredients expressed in percentage by weight mg of resin/ % Propylene Additives Reference dm.sup.2 of casing % Glycerin Glycol % G3-XCEL % Water Control M10484 0 40 10 50 0 M10485 2.78 40 10 37 13 1 M10486 2.25 40 10 30 20 2 M10487 1.88 40 10 25 25 3 M10488 1.5 40 10 20 30 4 M10489 1.13 40 10 15 35 5 M10490 0.75 40 10 10 40 6 M10491 0.38 40 10 5 45 7 M10492 0.23 40 10 3 47 8 M10493 0.08 40 10 1 49

(52) The casings coated with the different formulations were stuffed with a meat paste prepared according to the recipe of Table II, and the stuffed product was processed according to the cycle described in Table III.

(53) The results of the stuffed product processing are shown in Table VI.

(54) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE VI Results of stuffed product processing in casings with various resin concentrations. STUFFING STUFFING DIAMETER DIAMETER FAT DEGREE OF REFERENCE ADDITIVE PIECE 1, mm PIECE 2, mm SEEPAGE CLING M10484 Control 55/55 54/54 (4) (0) M10485 0 53/52.5 53.5/53 (0) (4) M10486 1 52/51 52/51.5 (0) (3) M10487 2 51.5/51.5 52/52 (0) (2) M10488 3 52/52 52.5/52 (0) (2) M10489 4 54/53 53/53.5 (0) (2) M10490 5 52/52 51.5/51.5 (0) (2) M10491 6 51.5/52 54/52.5 (0) (2) M10492 7 51.5/52 52.5/52 (1) (2) M10493 8 51.5/52 52.5/52 (2) (1) Keys to the results: Fat seepage: (0) = nil (1) = low (2) = moderate (3) = high (4) = massive Degree of cling: (0) = nil (1) = moderate (2) = notable (3) = high (4) = very high (5) = excessive

(55) It is observed in Table VI that generally the degree of cling increases with the amount of resin present in the shirring additive. The degree of cling starts to drop at resin solution concentrations less than 1% in the shirring composition, however, at such low concentrations the presence of polycationic resins allows reducing fat seepage with respect to the resin-free control samples.

Example III

Comparative Tests with Respect to Other Heat Curable Resins

(56) Based on the shirring composition of the invention, the effects of several types of both cationic and anionic heat curable resins were tested. The proportions of the components of each formulation are shown in Table VII.

(57) TABLE-US-00007 TABLE VII Compositions with different types of heat curable resins. Amount of the different ingredients expressed in percentage by weight 6% anionic 6% Ingredient 6% G3-XCEL 3% G3-Xcel 1.5% G3-XCEL 6% Polycup luredur lupamin % Glycerol 50 50 50 50 50 50 % G3-XCEL 6.0 3.0 1.5 (Cationic) % POLYCUP 172 EU 6.0 (Cationic) (Ashland) % LUREDUR PR8276X 6.0 (Anionic) (BASF) % Lupamin 9095 6.0 (Cationic) (BASF) % WATER 44 47 48.5 44 44 44

(58) The casings impregnated with the shirring solutions of Table VII were stuffed with a meat paste prepared according to the recipe of Table II, for which the % of soy isolate is increased from 1 to 2% and the % of casein is increased from 0 to 1%, and the casings were subjected to the processing cycle described in Table III. This new formula caused the stuffed product to be less inclined to release fat during processing than in Example I. The results obtained are shown in Table VIII.

(59) TABLE-US-00008 TABLE VIII Results of stuffed product processing in casings with various heat curable resins STUFFING STUFFING DIAMETER DIAMETER FAT SAMPLE KEY PIECE 1, (mm) PIECE 2, (mm) SEEPAGE DEGREE OF CLING M10505 6% CATIONIC 55/54.5 56/55 (0) (3) G3-XCEL M10505 HH 6% CATIONIC 56/55 55/54 (0) (3) G3-XCEL + 24 h at 40 C. M10507 1% CATIONIC 55/54 55.5/55 (1) (1) G3-XCEL M10508 CONTROL 53.5/53.5 55/53.5 (4) (0) SOFTENER M10509 6% CATIONIC 56/54.5 55/54 (2) (1) POLYCUP M10510 6% ANIONIC 54.5/53 56/54 (4) (0) LUREDUR M10512 6% CATIONIC 56/55 55.5/55 (3) (1) LUPAMIN Keys to the results: Fat seepage: (0) = nil (1) = low (2) = moderate (3) = high (4) = massive Degree of cling: (0) = nil (1) = moderate (2) = notable (3) = high (4) = very high (5) = excessive

(60) As can be seen in Table VIII, the best result was obtained with resin G3-XCEL, but also there was a slight effect for the case of the rest of the polycationic resins.

Example IV

Performance of a Cellulose Casing Treated with the Composition of the Invention when it is Applied to a Conventional Low Caliber Product Stuffed Commonly in Collagen or Natural Casing (Lapcheong)

(61) The performance of a low caliber cellulose casing to which the composition of the invention was applied during the shirring method was evaluated by means of this embodiment. For this embodiment, three different resin concentrations as described in Table IX were tested on a caliber 13 EUR cellulose casing equivalent to that used for stuffing a conventional low caliber and high fat content product, made commonly of natural casing or collagen casing. Said product called Lapcheong in its country of origin (China) has a typical meat composition described in Table X.

(62) TABLE-US-00009 TABLE IX Formulations of the shirring additive. Amount of the ingredients expressed in grams. Shirring additive 9.5% G3- 5% G3- 2.5% G3- Ingredient XCEL Xcel XCEL % Glycerol 50 50 50 % G3-XCEL 9.5 5 2.5 % WATER 40.5 45 47.5

(63) TABLE-US-00010 TABLE X Quantitative composition of the meat product, Lapcheong. INGREDIENTS % Shoulder 55.32 Bacon 25.15 White wine 3.22 Sugar 10.06 Lactose 3.77 Salt 1.51 SAPP* 0.30 STPP** 0.20 Pepper 0.30 Glutamate 0.10 Ascorbic acid 0.05 Nitrite 0.02 Colorant 0.02 *Sodium acid pyrophosphate **Basic sodium tripolyphosphate

(64) The conventional processing for such product consists of three days of oven drying (see the cycle in Table XI).

(65) TABLE-US-00011 TABLE XI Conventional conditions for Lapcheong maturation. PRODUCT: TRADITIONAL-LAPCHEONG TIME, TEMPERATURE, NAME OF STEP hours C. R.H. % DRYING 24 60 50 DRYING 24 55 35 DRYING 24 50 20

(66) The results showed (see Table XII) that the casings treated with the solution of the invention complemented the meat paste perfectly during the reduction experienced in the drying process, providing a perfectly acceptable end product appearance without any separation point, whereas the casings treated with the usual shirring solution were completely separated from the meat when the process ended.

(67) TABLE-US-00012 TABLE XII Comparison of the performance of a) the casings with standard shirring solutions (Easy Peeling and Softener) and b) casings of the invention (the rest) during the processing of a traditional Lapcheong. mg of INITIAL FLAT Result of resin/ WIDTH OF INITIAL FINAL complementing dm2 of CASING, WEIGHT, WEIGHT, REDUCTION, INITIAL casing with PROCESS REFERENCE ADDITIVE casing mm g g % , mm stuffed product CONVENTIONAL 13 EUR Easy 0.0 22 725 420 42.07 15.3 (0) OVEN peeling CONVENTIONAL 13 EUR- Softener 0.0 21.6 725 415 42.76 15.2 (0) OVEN M10565 control CONVENTIONAL M10566 Resin-9.5% 0.46 21 730 420 42.47 15.3 (1) OVEN CONVENTIONAL M10567 Resin-5% 0.24 21.5 730 420 42.47 15.3 (1) OVEN CONVENTIONAL M10568 Resin-2.5% 0.12 21.5 730 420 42.47 15.4 (1) OVEN Keys: Complementing casing with the stuffed product: (0) = Nil (1) = Correct

Example V

Performance of a Cellulose Casing Treated with the Composition of the Invention when it is Applied to a Lapcheong Prepared by Means of a Short Intense Cycle

(68) The performance of the casing in more aggressive processing conditions and in a much shorter cycle than the conventional cycle (the characteristics of which can be seen in Table XIII) which involve a significant reduction in stuffed product preparation time was to be confirmed in the next embodiment. The same meat composition described in Table X was used.

(69) TABLE-US-00013 TABLE XIII Quick Lapcheong maturation conditions. PRODUCT: LAPCHEONG SHORT CYCLE TIME, TEMPERATURE, NAME OF STEP hours C. R.H. % RELATIVE 1 60 50-60 HUMIDITY CONDITIONS 1 RELATIVE 1 70 40-50 HUMIDITY CONDITIONS 2 DRYING 1 75 0 DRYING 0.5 80 0 RELATIVE 0.5 85 80-95 HUMIDITY CONDITIONS 3 DRYING 0.5 85 0

(70) Due to the fact that even though the present processing cycle is shorter than that shown in Example IV, it was more intense in terms of temperatures, so a greater tendency of fat seepage from the meat product would be expected, and therefore the casing is further required to have good cling to the meat to prevent the formation of the pockets of fat. Surprisingly, the casings prepared with resin by means of the composition and method of the invention showed excellent cling to the meat emulsion, preventing fat seepage during stuffed product processing.

(71) TABLE-US-00014 TABLE XIV Comparison of the performance of a) the casings with standard shirring solutions (Easy Peeling and softener) and b) casings of the invention (the rest) after processing a Lapcheong prepared by means of a short intense cycle mg of INITIAL FLAT resin/ WIDTH OF INITIAL FINAL INITIAL DEGREE dm2 of CASING, WEIGHT, WEIGHT, REDUC. , FAT OF PROCESS REFERENCE ADDITIVE casing mm g g % mm SEEPAGE CLING Short oven 13 EUR Easy 0.0 22 730 505 30.82 15.2 (4) (0) cycle Peeling Short oven 13 EUR- SOFTENER 0.0 21.6 730 500 31.51 15.5 (3) (0) cycle M10565 Short oven M10566 Resin - 9.5% 0.46 21 730 475 34.93 15.4 (0) (3) cycle Short oven M10567 Resin - 5% 0.24 21.5 730 475 34.93 15.4 (0) (3) cycle Short oven M10568 Resin - 2.5% 0.12 21.5 730 475 34.93 15.3 (0) (2) cycle Keys to the results: Fat seepage: (0) = nil (1) = low (2) = moderate (3) = high (4) = massive degree of cling: (0) = nil (1) = moderate (2) = notable (3) = high (4) = very high (5) = excessive

(72) The results show (see Table XIV) that the casings treated with the composition of the invention completely prevented fat seepage from the meat paste during the quick processing of Lapcheong.

(73) Compared with Example IV, Example V shows that the casings of the invention allow performing a much shorter cycle than the conventional cycle without fat seepage from the stuffed product, unlike casings with the standard shirring composition, which do not allow this because they case a number of fat separations. This possible use of the casings of the invention in a much shorter alternative cycle entails a considerable advantage for stuffed product manufacturers.

Example VI

Variation of Water Activity of the Shirring Solution of the Invention

(74) The analysis of the water activity (a.sub.w) of the compositions having the best performance in shirring ranged between 0.84 and 0.91. Table XV shows various compositions of the invention with their corresponding water activity and their performance in the shirring operation.

(75) TABLE-US-00015 TABLE XV Shirring ability and (a.sub.w) of different compositions of the invention. % % % G3- Water Glycerol XCEL a.sub.w SHIRRING ABILITY 84 10 6 0.95 The casing holds on to the sleeve. It has shirring difficulties. 64 30 6 0.93 The casing slightly holds on to the sleeve. It can be shirred with some difficulty. 54 40 6 0.91 OK 44 50 6 0.84 OK 34 60 6 0.76 The casing does not absorb the shirring additive well

Example VII

Effect of Varying the pH of the Shirring Solution of the Invention on the Degree of Cling of the Casing to the Meat Product

(76) The pH of a shirring composition of the invention which consisted of an aqueous solution with 50% glycerol and 6% G3-XCEL, was set to a range of 1.0 to 13.0 in order to determine the effect of this parameter on the cling of the casing to the meat paste. The meat paste described in Example III, which was subjected to the processing cycle described in Table XVI, was used for that purpose. A casing shirred with softener was included as the negative control. The amount of resin added was 0.45 mg/dm2 in the rest of the cases. The results obtained are described in Table XVII.

(77) TABLE-US-00016 TABLE XVI Processing conditions of the meat product NAME OF TEMPERATURE, TIME, STEP C. minutes R.H. % DRYING 65 20 <10% FLAMING 65 5 40-50% SMOKING 65 15 40-50% DRYING2 70 5 <10% COOKING 80 30 >90%

(78) TABLE-US-00017 TABLE XVII Results of stuffed product processing in casings shirred with additive of the invention set to different pH value. INITIAL FLAT WIDTH OF INITIAL FINAL CASING, WEIGHT, WEIGHT, REDUCTION, INITIAL FAT DEGREE REFERENCE ADDITIVE mm g g % , mm SEEPAGE OF CLING 21 EUR SOFTENER 30 1780 1470 17.4 21.4 4 0 HC-1 Resin at pH = 1 30 1775 1430 19.4 21.6 0 2 HC-4 Resin at pH = 4 30.4 1770 1430 19.2 21.8 0 2 HC-8 Resin at pH = 8 30 1770 1425 19.5 21.8 0 3 HC-9 Resin at pH = 9 30 1770 1420 19.8 21.8 0 4 HC-10 Resin at pH = 10 30 1775 1415 20.3 21.7 0 4 HC-13 Resin at pH = 13 30 1770 1425 19.5 21.5 0 3 Keys to the results: Fat seepage: (0) = nil (1) = low (2) = moderate (3) = high (4) = massive Degree of cling: (0) = nil (1) = moderate (2) = notable (3) = high (4) = very high (5) = excessive

(79) Surprisingly the composition of the invention prevented fat seepage in the entire pH range studied. On the other hand, the degree of cling was modulated by the pH of the shirring composition, a maximum value of about pH=9-10 and a minimum value at acidic pHs being observed (FIG. 2). Therefore, by varying the pH of the composition the cling of the casing to the meat can be specifically adapted for each type of stuffed product.

Example VIII

Application of the Method of the Invention on Polyamide Casing

(80) Tests were carried out to check the effect of the additive used in the preceding casings for increasing meat cling in a plastic casing.

(81) The test was started with 2 Caliber 37 Betan printed samples (plastic polyamide casing), one of them shirred with softener and the other with the additive of the invention, made up of an aqueous solution with 50% glycerol and 6% G3-XCEL, to an amount of resin in the casing of 0.34 mg/dm2. A standard Bratwurst emulsion was stuffed therein in a VEMAG RUBBY-II stuffer with a caliber 37 twisting arm, and the sausages were cooked at 72 C. for 45 minutes. After cooking, the sausages were washed and after five minutes of rest, the sausages of both samples were peeled. An increase in the grip of the casing to the meat in the samples that had an additive with a high degree of cling was observed.

Example IX

Determination of the Distribution of the Heat Curable Polycationic Resin by Means of the Heat Curable Polycationic Resin Staining Technique

(82) To determine the distribution of the heat curable polycationic resin in a casing an aqueous solution of Coomassie blue with the following composition was used: 0.125% Coomassie blue (Merck), 50% methanol and 10% acetic acid. The method consisted of taking a casing sample of about 10 cm in length, cutting it longitudinally to open the tube and submerge the sample in the Coomassie blue solution for 10 s. It was then washed under running water for 20 s and dried between two filter papers. The entire method was carried out at room temperature. The areas which had heat curable polycationic resin appeared in blue, it being more intense when there was a larger amount of resin.

(83) FIG. 1 shows the absence of staining for the case of a coating-free cellulose casing with a heat curable polycationic resin (1.a), complete and homogenous distribution for the case of injecting said resin in viscose (1.b), complete and homogenous distribution for the case of adding said resin by means of the bubble method (1.c) and complete and non-homogenous distribution for the case of adding said resin with the composition of the invention in the shirring process (1.d).