Arjuna Natural Extracts has announced X-tend, a complete, natural, formulation-specific preservative designed to increase chilled-meat product shelf-life and ensure food safety.

Arjuna Natural Extracts has announced X-tend, a complete, natural, formulation-specific preservative designed to increase chilled-meat product shelf-life and ensure food safety.

Synthetic preservatives commonly used in chilled meats contain nitrates, the company says, and these can generate nitrosamines, chemical compounds suspected of increasing cancer risk. But nitrosomyoglobin, formed from myoglobin and nitric oxide during curing, is responsible for the red colour in cured meats associated with freshness. Some of the volatile nitrosamines formed during curing process with nitrates have mutagenic activity --- a high price paid for controlling the growth of yeast and mould, according to Arjuna. The all-natural X-tend formulation can, says the company, replac chemical nitrosomyoglobin-forming preservatives yet is non-carcinogenic and safe to use in chilled meat. It is said to be highly potent and to prevent the growth of yeast and mould in chilled meat products.

”We conducted a number of bench trials to measure how X-tend performs in chilled meat preservation,” said Benny Antony, Joint Managing Director for Arjuna. “The excellent results encouraged us to offer this new, powerful natural preservative formulation to meat manufacturers. It’s a new, clean way of preservation that also can help differentiate cured meat products in the marketplace.”

The biggest challenge in replacing synthetic preservatives involves flavour masking (blocking unwanted or undesired flavours) while creating the correct functional mix of natural ingredients to combat a range of microbial activities, Arjuna claims. The advanced X-tend formulation is designed to provide a natural solution for a variety of problems typically encountered in chilled meat products, such as: microbial spoilage, oxidative rancidity, short shelf life, off colour, and altered flavour. It retains natural colour and freshness, and extends chilled meat shelf life by up to 15 days.

“Today’s meat industries are increasingly seeking more ready-to-use solutions that are tailored and natural, allowing for clean label products,” said Antony. “X-tend is offered in both liquid and powder forms. It is a comprehensive, natural solution safeguarding taste, colour, product safety, and increased shelf-life.