An assessment of the fatty acid composition of horse-meat available at the retail level in northern Spain.
The objective of the present study was to assess the fatty acid composition of horse-meat available at the retail market in northern Spain. Horse steaks (Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle; n=82) were purchased from butcher-shops and large grocery stores throughout six northern regions of Spain in two different seasons. Fat content differed significantly among regions (1.12 to 2.77%). Samples with higher intramuscular fat content presented the highest percentages of total monounsaturated fatty acids and the lowest contents of dimethylacetal and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), while the opposite was found in the leanest samples. A high variability was observed in the muscle and subcutaneous n-3 PUFA content. Overall, total n-3 PUFA content ranged between 1.17% and 18.9% in muscle fat and between 1.52% and 27.9% in backfat. Interestingly, almost 5% of surveyed loins from horse carcasses (4 out of 82) contained over 300mg of linolenic acid per 100g of meat which could have been marketed as a "source" of n-3 FAs according to Commission Regulation (EU) No 116/2010.
Lactiker Research Group, Department of Pharmacy & Food Sciences, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
Xabier
X
Belaunzaran
Mountain Livestock Institute, CSIC-ULE, Finca Marzanas, 24346 Grulleros, León, Spain.
Paz
P
Lavín
Lactiker Research Group, Department of Pharmacy & Food Sciences, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
Luis J R
LJ
Barron
Mountain Livestock Institute, CSIC-ULE, Finca Marzanas, 24346 Grulleros, León, Spain.
Angel R
AR
Mantecón
Guelph Food Research Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada.
John K G
JK
Kramer
Lactiker Research Group, Department of Pharmacy & Food Sciences, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Electronic address: noelia.aldai@ehu.eus.
Noelia
N
Aldai
D000818:Animals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D005504:Food Analysis; D006736:Horses; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D009753:Nutritive Value; D013030:Spain
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
Branched-chain fatty acids; Equine; Intramuscular fat; Long-chain n-3 fatty acids; Subcutaneous fat