Incorporating dietary fiber from fruit and vegetable waste in meat products: a systematic approach for sustainable meat processing and improving the functional, nutritional and health attributes

Nutritional value of meat

The prevalent levels of saturated fat in meat, especially red meat, give it a bad reputation regarding people’s health. Therefore, it is recommended to limit one’s consumption of meat, particularly red meat, in order to reduce an individual’s chance of developing certain disorders and diseases including cardiovascular (CV) diseases (Giromini & Givens, 2022). However, this perspective takes into account the fact that meat is a rich source of several micronutrients, including vitamins and trace minerals that are either absent from meals derived from plants or have a low bioavailability in those foods (Biesalski, 2005). In addition, because it is high in protein and low in carbohydrates, meat has a lesser glycemic index (GI), which is thought to be advantageous in preventing obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Meat is a product that is rich in protein and low in carbohydrates (Biesalski, 2005).

Protein content of meat

Protein makes up about twenty percent of the average muscle’s composition. Lean meat’s dry matter is primarily made up of proteins, the most abundant component (Biesalski, 2005). Because the human body is unable to produce nine of the amino acids that are found in proteins from other substances, the body must obtain these amino acids from the food it consumes. These amino acids are considered essential or semi-essential. Meat typically has its protein in its protein at relatively high concentrations of the four most important amino acids-sulfur-containing amino acids, lysine, threonine, and tryptophan. It should not come as a surprise that the protein quality of animal proteins, such as those found in meat and milk, tends to be higher than that of plant proteins. When compared to plant proteins, the proteins found in animals are easier to digest. The fact that the majority of plant proteins are wrapped in polysaccharide matrix, inaccessible to proteolytic enzymes, helps to explain this phenomenon to some extent. The protein content of a meal can be improved by the complementing effect of combining plant and animal sources (Colmenero, Ayo & Carballo, 2005).

Proteins included in meat are essential for human nutrition. Since animal proteins must be digested into amino acids or tiny peptides before they can pass through the small intestinal wall and into the bloodstream, their nutritional value is directly related to how easily they can be broken down (Sun, Zhou & Zhao, 2015). Changes in meat protein aggregation and oxidation can affect its digestion by digestive enzymes (Sante-Lhoutellier, Aubry & Gatellier, 2007). Incorporation of plant-based waste in meat products generally does not harm protein digestibility and quality (Lin et al., 2019). Also in another study, Jucara (Euterpe edulis) fruit waste extract was able to stabilize protein oxidation in conventional broiler meat (da Silva Frasao et al., 2021). So, incorporating fruit and vegetable in meat products is safer regarding protein digestibility and helps in stabilizing the protein oxidation.

Fat content of meat

Animal fat is primarily stored in fatty tissue, which can be further subdivided into adipose fat, subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, and marbling fat. The fat found within the muscles is known as marbling, and it helps produce a favorable texture (Lawrie & Ledward, 2014). Depending on the animal’s fat excretion and the preparation method, a given piece of meat may include varying amounts of intermuscular and depot fat. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) are commonly thought to make up the bulk of animal fat, whereas over 50% of the fatty acids in meat are unsaturated (Lawrie & Ledward, 2014). Lipids in meat typically comprise less than half saturated fatty acids (beef 50–52%) and as much as 70% unsaturated fatty acids (Valsta, Tapanainen & Männistö, 2005).

The grinding, cooking, and storing steps in the processing of meat products expose lipids to the air, which causes them to oxidize quickly and irreversibly. Meat and meat products lose their desirable flavor and texture because of rancidity, turn brown, and create hazardous substances including malondialdehyde and cholesterol oxidation products due to lipid oxidation (Choe et al., 2014). The addition of various fruit and waste extract may help in retarding lipid oxidation and reducing the fat content of the meat products. In one study, to a more significant extent, persimmon peel extracts prevented lipid oxidation of pork patties while they were being refrigerated (Choe, Kim & Kim, 2017). In another study, inulin from chicory root was able to reduce the fat at a significant level in pork and chicken meatball (Montoya et al., 2022). Thus incorporation of fruit and vegetable waste and their extract in meat products may help in slowing down lipid oxidation and rancidity.

Vitamin content of meat

Most fat-soluble vitamins are not easily eliminated from the body and are instead retained in the liver and adipose tissues alongside fat. On the other hand, the body tends to keep a far smaller quantity of water-soluble vitamins than it does fat-soluble vitamins. The majority of vitamins found in livestock and human diets are produced either by plants or microorganisms. Some animal cells can synthesize vitamins like vitamin D, niacin, and ascorbate, and convert pro-vitamins to the active form (McDowell, 2008). Additionally, commensal microbes in the digestive tracts of both ruminants and non-ruminants have the potential to operate as a source of some vitamins, including vitamin K and the water-soluble B-complex vitamins (McDowell, 2008). Regarding human nutrition, meat has long been acknowledged as a reliable source of B vitamins (Obeid et al., 2019).

Mineral content of meat

The zinc and iron in meat are two of its most valuable nutrients. It is well established that meals rich in animal protein produce more excellent zinc absorption than meals rich in wholegrain cereal (Latunde-Dada & Neale, 2007). Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element to maintain good health. Processes like as antioxidative defense mechanism, inflammation lessening, thyroid hormone synthesis, fertility, reproduction, and DNA synthesis rely on this selenoprotein component (Antonyak et al., 2018). The mineral composition of frankfurter-style sausages was drastically altered when buckwheat husk was added. The addition of this non-meat item resulted in a greater concentration of several trace elements, including manganese, calcium, potassium, and magnesium; the first of these increased by nearly six times, and the last, by more than 40 percent (Salejda et al., 2022). The research conducted on the quality of pork loaves with the addition of hemp seeds, de-hulled hemp seeds, hemp protein, and hemp flour confirmed that there was a significant increase in magnesium and manganese after the addition of these non-meat ingredients to a meat product. This increase occurred after the addition of hemp seeds, hemp protein and hemp flour (Zając et al., 2019). Manganese, potassium, and magnesium levels in meat emulsion were all boosted by the addition of house cricket flour in place of lean meat/fat portions (Kim et al., 2017).

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element to maintain good health. Processes like as antioxidative defense mechanism, inflammation lessening, thyroid hormone synthesis, fertility, reproduction, and DNA synthesis rely on this selenoprotein component (Hariharan & Dharmaraj, 2020).

Dietary fiber incorporation in meat products and its effect in various metabolic disorders

Dietary fiber is derived from plant sources, especially agro-waste. These dietary fibers are an excellent source of natural antioxidants and may serve to improve the shelf life of meat products when incorporated into them. Antioxidants are an additive used in meat products that could be substituted with natural antioxidants obtained from DF. These substances prevent the oxidation of lipids, proteins, and pigments in foods, extending their shelf life and maintaining the food’s original color, texture, aroma, flavor, and overall quality (Damodaran & Parkin, 2017). Many fruit and vegetable wastes are the attractive source of DF. When these wastes included in different meat products, the DF content was noticed as in one of the studies, Mosambi (sweet lime) peel powder was incorporated in sausages and patties at various levels. After incorporation, 7.33% and 6.24% of total DF were found in sausage and patties, respectively (Younis, Ahmad & Malik, 2021). Similarly, in other study, 3% DF was found by incorporating the upper stem of white cauliflower (7.5%) in beef sausage (Abul-Fadl, 2012). While, in another study, 2.94% DF was found when 40% oyster mushroom was added in chicken sausage (Ahmad et al., 2020) as shown in Fig. 1. The inclusion of dietary fiber in meat products also helps in health management. Waste from fruits and vegetables includes phytic acid (Jayadev, 2017; Ani & Abel, 2018), which acts as a cation exchange component and a mineral chelator for positively charged ions like cadmium, calcium, zinc, and copper (Ekholm et al., 2003). Chelating agents can influence metal toxicity by mobilizing the toxic metal mainly into the urine (Flora & Pachauri, 2010).

Dietary phytochemicals are substances derived from plants that are not considered nutrients but have been connected with a lower risk of developing certain chronic diseases (Liu, 2004). When these phytochemicals are ingested consistently through food, they even have the potential to protect against some malignancies and cardiovascular illnesses (Okarter & Liu, 2010). Soluble dietary fiber, such as barley and oats, protects against heart-related disorders and certain malignancies, and lowers total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Pins, 2006). Insoluble dietary fiber, such that found in wheat bran, has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of colon cancer, as well as the risk of developing other cancer, obesity, and gastro-intestinal issues (Stevenson et al., 2012).

Role of dietary fiber in human health

Roughage-rich diets have been shown to lessen the risk of obesity, CV disease, and several malignancies. DF shows the chances of reduction of several diseases that occurs due to lack of fiber in meat products after incorporating DF from different fruit and vegetable sourced wastes. Foods high in DF have a bulking effect. Over the past few years, an increasing body of research has focused on how to reap the health benefits of DF, mainly by adding fiber to a diet that is otherwise deficient in recent diet due to highly processed food product. DF acts as a laxative, reduces blood cholesterol, and provides antioxidant activity; these are just three of the many benefits that have been tallied during the last half-century. Some DF can’t do what they are credited with doing, while others can’t do it as well or as often.

Dietary fiber lowers cholesterol and prevents cardiovascular diseases

Because of its ability to lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, DF has gained attention as a potential nutraceutical agent for preventing CV diseases (McRae, 2017). They found that β-glucan or psyllium fibers reduces significantly total serum and LDL cholesterol levels. Diets high in dietary fiber could dramatically lower total cholesterol, on consuming fruits and vegetables in abundance (Soliman, 2019). A few essential mechanisms include the inhibition of lipoprotein formation and cholesterol synthesis, increased insulin sensitivity due to delayed macronutrient absorption (Nweze, Nebechukwu & Bawa, 2021). As a result, consuming DF plays a significant role in reducing the potential of CV diseases.

Dietary fiber and prevention of gastrointestinal diseases

It is widely known that increasing one’s consumption of fiber results in decreased transit periods, increased feces volume, and enhanced fluid concentration (Soliman, 2019). Compared to the other types of fibers typically taken in through diet, cellulose tends to produce a larger volume of feces, which in turn decreases the transit period (Wichert et al., 2002). It has been demonstrated that DF can absorb various mutagens like Trp-P-1, Trp-P-2, AαC and MeAαC (processed induced mutagenic heterocyclic amines), hence decreasing the amount of time the colon is exposed to these substances (Raman et al., 2013). In short, DF reduces transit time, dilutes and binds toxic colon chemicals, and reduces mucosal exposure to many of these substances. Dietary fiber’s role against colon cancer has been outlined in detail. Anti-carcinogenic activity can be achieved in two ways: (a) by decreasing the synthesis of carcinogenic compounds in the colon and (b) by increasing fecal volume, which decreases the contact of cancer risk agents present in feces with intestinal mucosa (Sharma, Yadav & Ritika, 2008). DF helps lower cancer risk, especially for colorectal cancer, which begins in the large intestine, by promoting fermentation that produces short-chain fatty acids (Xiong et al., 2022).

Role of dietary fiber in satiety regulation and weight control

Due to the intake of DF in food, the bulk is created, which gives a full stomach feeling and stops a person from eating further for a longer time. Satiety regulation and gastrointestinal emptying are aided by the hormones produced in the gut, which are increased by DF (Costabile et al., 2018). Researchers from all around the world have looked at the weight-control benefits of DF (Puupponen-Pimiä et al., 2002). A total weight loss of 2.494 kg was found in a meta-analysis of studies involving different fiber types (Thompson et al., 2017). Another meta-analysis found that using chitosan supplements decreased nearly 1.814 pounds in total body weight loss (Mhurchu et al., 2005).

Dietary fiber in the prevention of constipation

Water-insoluble, non-fermentable fibers immediately increase the luminal size, which in turn results in shorter gut transit time, which promotes laxation. On the other hand, water-soluble fibers have a high water-holding capacity, which results in bulky, soft stools that are easier to pass (Slavin, 2013). Two different meta-analyses indicate that fiber supplementation significantly increases stool frequency compared to placebo (Yang et al., 2012; Christodoulides et al., 2016). The risk of getting hemorrhoids may be reduced by taking a fiber supplement; if doing so reduces, the symptoms of constipation and the straining that accompany it.

Dietary fiber in the prevention of inflammatory bowel disease

There was a 56% decrease in the incidence of Crohn’s disease and a 20% decrease in the incidence of ulcerative colitis, when comparing the highest and lowest categories of DF intake. However, the Crohn’s disease meta-analysis revealed substantial heterogeneity. The incidence of Crohn’s disease was observed to reduce by 13% for every 10 g/d increase in dietary fiber, suggesting a linear dose-response association between the two (Liu et al., 2015). The short-chain fatty acid component of fermentable fiber, butyrate, has been hypothesized to have an anti-inflammatory impact via downregulating the transcription factor NF-kB. According to a meta-analysis supporting this anti-inflammatory effect, supplementing with DF led to a small, but statistically significant decrease in C-reactive protein levels in people who were overweight or obese (Jiao et al., 2015).

Effect of dietary fiber incorporation on physico-chemical properties of meat products

Fiber addition to meat products has changed their overall composition, which has led to the development of new fiber sources and opened up exciting prospects for their application across several industries. The use of dried pumpkin pulp reduced the patties’ moisture content and raised their ash content. Raw and cooked patties both had a higher pH after incorporation. The capacity to retain moisture improved, as the amount of dry pumpkin pulp added rose. The cooking yield and diameter change, when pumpkin pulp was added were not significantly different (Serdaroğlu et al., 2018). This increase in ash content of meat product was probably due to higher mineral content of pumpkin matrix. As meat ash content rises, it could help end specific mineral deficiency. Trace minerals (iron, zinc, selenium, iodine, copper, chromium, manganese and molybdenum) perform vital functions within the body including thyroid metabolism, antioxidant activity and immune function (Vural et al., 2020). For example, zinc (Zn) is the second most abundant trace element in human, which can’t be stored in the body, thus regular dietary intake is required Zn microelement is very essential for male fertility. It could be considered as a nutrient marker with many potentials in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of male infertility (Fallah, Mohammad-Hasani & Colagar, 2018). In one study, protein content, mineral content, and crude fiber content were increased by the incorporation of white cauliflower by-product flour in beef sausage; pH was found to be increased by the incorporation of flour made from the upper stem of white cauliflower. The cooking yield was also increased gradually with the incorporation of white cauliflower stem powder, because of its water yielding property (Abul-Fadl, 2012). The quantity of protein and fat in emulsified pork meatballs reduced as rice bran was added. In contrast, the amount of carbohydrates in the meatballs grew dramatically as rice bran was added (Choi et al., 2011). The protein level of frankfurter beef sausages was raised by one percentage point, and the ash content was raised dramatically when 7% of the residue was added. The benefits of increased ash content has already been discussed in previous example. Furthermore, overall lipid levels dropped, and this reduction in lipid provided longer shelf life by cutting down the chance of lipid oxidation. The question of what sort of quality this residue adds to the protein remains unanswered (Savadkoohi et al., 2014). A few other examples are showing the changes in different characteristics of meat products by incorporating various plant-based materials, especially waste, have been listed in Table 1.

Effect of dietary fiber incorporation on functional properties of meat products

Many fruits and vegetable waste acts as DF. This waste, at the same time, contains such compounds, which show antioxidant properties. In addition to protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals, chemicals like polyphenols can also treat diseases and their symptoms by inhibiting inflammatory responses and halting the progression of infection (Shay et al., 2015). As a result, incorporating such substances into meat products may improve their functionality and, thus, their healthfulness. The remnants of fresh dates are the source of polyphenols; when they were included in the formulation of bologna sausages (15% of the total), the finished product had a polyphenol level of 1.02% (Sánchez-Zapata et al., 2011). This finding suggests that adding extracts rich in polyphenolic chemicals to meat products can serve as an antioxidant and provide health benefits to the end user. Lycopene, a carotenoid present in 80-90% of ripe tomatoes, has been linked to various health benefits, including a reduced risk of prostate cancer and CV disease (Friedman, 2013). After 21 days in storage, 0.58 mg of lycopene per 100 g of product was discovered in concentrations of up to 1.2% of the tomato peel in sausage. Lycopene was detected in beef burgers cooked at 180 °C for 2 min (Luisa García, Calvo & Dolores Selgas, 2009). Furthermore, the leftovers from tomatoes can be a source of amino acids and trace elements. By incorporating just 7% of the residue, the protein level was raised by 1%, while also boosting the ash content from 2.18% to 2.45% in frankfurter beef sausages. The percentage of total lipids dropped from 20.07 to 19.4 as a result (Savadkoohi et al., 2014).

Prebiotics are a potential health benefit of fruit and vegetable waste. Prebiotics are elements that can survive stomach acid, mammalian enzymatic hydrolysis, absorption in GI tract; they are fermentable by intestinal flora and hence foster the expansion of beneficial bacteria like probiotics (Gibson et al., 2004). Prebiotics come in many forms, but some common ones include cellulose and fiber. Fiber from nopal flour (2%) and pineapple peel flour (3%) added to cooked sausages helped inoculated thermos-tolerant (probiotic) lactic acid bacteria thrive over 20 days in storage (Díaz-Vela, Totosaus & Pérez-Chabela, 2015). It is important to note that the amount of bacteria in a formulation such as this one, which contains both a probiotic and a prebiotic, needs to be closely controlled because the bacteria have the potential to degrade the overall quality of the product. It has also been observed in the above-discussed case that the inclusion of agro-industrial waste raises the mineral content of the meat products, which could lead to a rise in mineral consumption and help meet dietary guidelines.

Effect of dietary fiber incorporation on sensory, textural, and color characteristics of meat products

Important sensory requirements for customer acceptance of meat products include aroma, flavor, color, appearance, tenderness, and juiciness. Adding pea cotyledon fiber to low-fat beef patties (10% and 14% fat) improved tenderness without adversely affecting the juiciness or intensity of the meat flavor (Luisa García, Cáceres & Dolores Selgas, 2006). While adding lemon albedo to fermented sausages did not change the sausages’ odor, granularity, or salty or acidic taste, it did make them juicier. On the other hand, incorporating fresh lemon albedo enhanced the red color’s perceptual impact (Aleson-Carbonell et al., 2003). Tomato peel extract added to ground beef at concentrations of 1.5%, 3%, and 4.5%resulted in highly acceptable grades for the final product; however, the orange appearance and flavor linked with a 6% addition reduced the acceptance rating due to high concentration of this ingredient (Savadkoohi et al., 2014).

The acceptability and desire to purchase a food product and the quality are all reflected in its aesthetic (texture and color), especially for meat products. Concentrations of fiber from citrus in meat products below 1.5% (0.5% and 1%) increased hardness (Fernandez-Gines et al., 2003). In comparison, concentrations of fiber from citrus in meat products at 2% reduced it, possibly as a result of the effect on the free water retention capacity; the final properties of the texture can be modified by the amount of fiber incorporation in the meat product (Fernandez-Gines et al., 2003). When raw albedo was added to fermented sausages, the sausages had lower chewiness values compared to the control, but when cooked albedo was added, the chewiness was greater than the control. Therefore, the addition of the type of lemon albedo (raw or cooked) in fermented sausages was capable of modifying the chewiness of the product. So to remove the bad effect associated with albedo incorporation in sausage was removed by cooking albedo prior to its incorporation in meat product. Similarly, in another study, pretreatment of sodium chloride was given to peel to remove/reduce the bitterness of the sausage arising from the incorporation of mosambi peel (Younis et al., 2019).

The carotenoid content and antioxidant action of citrus fruit fiber altered the brightness of bologna sausages throughout a wide concentration range (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%). This included changes in the intensity of the red and yellow colors (Fernandez-Gines et al., 2003). Irradiated hamburgers (2 and 4 kGy) retained their red color (a*) when dried tomato peel (3% to 6%) was added to the meat (Luisa García, Calvo & Dolores Selgas, 2009). Sausage with 0.6%, 0.9%, or 1.2% dehydrated tomato peel kept its red hue for 21 days, but the brightness was dimmed and the yellow intensity (b*) was boosted, and there was an improvement in hardness and cutting force, but a decline in cohesiveness (Calvo, García & Selgas, 2008). Here, tomato peel’s high lycopene and beta-carotene concentration proved superior to pulp’s in preserving the red color of final meat products (Joseph et al., 2014). A few other examples showed the changes in different characteristics of meat products by incorporating various plant-based materials, especially waste, and have been listed in Table 1.

Effect of dietary fiber incorporation on shelf-life of meat products

It is of the utmost importance that the quality and shelf stability of a meat product is maintained during its storage. It has been discovered that the addition of different kinds of fiber sources to meat products can alter the preservation quality in a variety of ways. The inclusion of chia seeds in (camburger) camel burger, too has recorded a reduced TBA (thiobarbituric acid) value, which implies lesser lipid oxidation in comparison to the control, and these burgers were determined to be organoleptically acceptable after storage for a period of 12 days (Zaki, 2018). Because it better inhibits oxymyoglobin oxidation, the addition of oat flour to chicken kofta has resulted in a product that is microbiologically safe and sensorial acceptable over the entire period of 15 days of storage (Lin & Lin, 2006). Grape seed, which includes flavonoids including catechin, epicatechin, procyanidins, and other chemicals with antimicrobial properties, is the most widely utilized and documented industrial waste for this purpose (Friedman, 2014). Uncertain processes, including disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane, blockage of specific metabolic pathways and enzymes, and chelation of critical metals for growth like zinc and iron, underlie the antibacterial effects of polyphenols and other natural chemicals (Daglia, 2012). Incorporation of grape seed in raw pork in aerobic packaging at 20 °C, when inoculated with 10⁵ CFU of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica. Decreased growth of L. monocytogenes by 17.5%, S. aureus by 14%, and S. entericaby 20% (Shan et al., 2009). A 4-log decrease in the growth of L. monocytogenes at 4 °C, 1 log at 7 °C, and no changes at 12 °C was noticed in meat paté incorporated with pomegranate peel. The inoculation was done with 4 log CFU/g of L. monocytogenes at 4 °C, 7 °C, and 12 °C for 46 days (Hayrapetyan, Hazeleger & Beumer, 2012). A few other examples have been listed in Table 2, indicating the shelf-life through changes in microbiological characteristics and antioxidant capacity of different meat products as influenced by various incorporations.

Health benefits by interaction of dietary fiber in meat products

Fortifying processed meat products with bioactive components that may help or mitigate the negative health consequences of eating processed meat is one strategy for combating the potential detrimental effects of eating processed meat. Studies reported a correlation between eating meat products incorporated with dietary fiber improves digestive health system, improve digestion, reduces the risk of coronary heart diseases and many more. Fortifying pork sausages with inulin from chicory root has been demonstrated to have considerable effects on the metabolites created in the gastrointestinal tract by the gut microbiota, as shown in a recent study using a rat model (Thøgersen et al., 2018). The short-chain fatty acids acetate, propionate, and butyrate have been identified as pivotal in the positive effects linked with dietary fiber consumption (Zhao et al., 2018; Gill et al., 2018), and their production was increased by fortification of pork sausage with inulin. Butyrate production was also increased by the inclusion of dietary fiber in salami (a fermented meat product) in a human intervention study conducted by Pérez-Burillo et al. (2020). Additionally, dietary butyrylated starch has showed to improve gut short-chain fatty acid content and reduce the production of harmful and carcinogenic O6-methyl-2-deoxyguanosine adducts, the latter of which has been linked to a diet high in red meat (Le Leu et al., 2015). Therefore, recent data suggests that compounds containing fermentable dietary fiber and short-chain fatty acids can mitigate the negative effects of eating processed meat products in the colon. While research into the cancer-fighting potential of unfermentable fiber is still limited, preliminary results from animal model studies are promising in cancer prevention (Corpet & Pierre, 2003).

Colon health benefits from high calcium consumption have been suggested by cohort studies (Huncharek, Muscat & Kupelnick, 2009; Meng et al., 2019). Recent research by Thøgersen et al., (2018) in a rat model examined the impact of supplementing processed meat with calcium and inulin. Interestingly, consuming processed meat that has been fortified with calcium-rich milk minerals decreases the formation of undesirable N-nitroso compounds in the gastrointestinal tract and increases the formation of short-chain fatty acids in the colon, compared to eating processed meat that has not been fortified (Thøgersen et al., 2018). In light of these encouraging findings, it appears that potentially harmful effects associated with the consumption of meat can, in fact, be mitigated through the modification of the meat product matrix and the fortification of meat products or through the strategic design of meals that include components like dietary fiber and calcium which counteract unintended effects in the intestinal system that are associated with the consumption of meat.

Once it was discovered that obesity was linked to mortality-inducing conditions like cardiovascular disease, it became clear that this issue needed urgent attention. In meat product formulations, particularly emulsified products that are known to have a high energy value, the addition of dietary fiber can result in a reduction in total energy consumption (Blackwood et al., 2016). This is because dietary fiber acts as fat replacers, in addition to delaying gastric emptying and increasing the distension of the stomach, both of which contribute to a greater perception of satiety (Hoad et al., 2004). Perception of satiety avoids the intake of excess calories and helps in reducing the obesity. In a research, appetite study and in-vitro digestibility of meat product (bologna sausage) incorporated with chia mucilage was conducted (Câmara et al., 2020). It was found that chia mucilage was proven as effective fat replacer in bologna sausage with increased retention time in stomach and consequently resulted in same satiety (Câmara et al., 2020). This will prevent excess eating, and one may avoid obesity by consuming such soluble fiber-based formulations of meat products.

In another study, a meat product (sausage) was formulated using cereal (rice) flour. It was claimed that a daily serving size of 100 g of sausage may correct a potassium and iron deficiency, nearly restore magnesium, calcium, and vitamin A, and cut a dietary fiber deficiency in half (Sadovoy et al., 2021). Also, laboratory mice whose staple diet included the formed sausage showed a significantly increased biological value and safety, as measured by cytological examinations of their blood (Sadovoy et al., 2021). Thus, meat products with dietary fiber from various fruits and vegetables may have health benefits for several disorders and chronic diseases. Eating meat products enriched with dietary fiber and plant-based materials may remove multiple deficiencies.