Determining the Optimal Level of Natural Calcium Powders and Whey Protein Concentrate Blends as Phosphate Replacers in Cooked Ground Pork Products

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the addition levels of a phosphate replacer blend in ground pork sausages. The phosphate replacer consisted of 0.2% oyster shell calcium powder, 0.3% egg shell calcium powder, and 0.25% whey protein concentrate. Depending on the presence or absence of synthetic phosphate and the addition level of phosphate replacer, the following products were processed: control (+) (0.3% phosphate), control (-) (non-phosphate), 20AL (20% replacer), 40AL (40% replacer), 60AL (60% replacer), 80AL (80% replacer), and 100AL (100% replacer). The pH values of pork sausages increased (p<0.05) with increasing addition level of the phosphate replacer. When more than 40% of the phosphate replacer was added to pork samples (40AL, 60AL, 80AL, and 100AL), cooking loss was significantly reduced compared to both the control (+) and control (-). However, no significant differences were observed in the moisture content and CIE $L^*$ values between the controls and the treatments with a phosphate replacer. The control (+) and 100AL treatment had the highest (p<0.05) hardness, but the samples with the phosphate replacer were not significantly different in cohesiveness and springiness from the control (+). As addition level increased, the gumminess and chewiness of the products with the phosphate replacer increased, which were lower than those of the control (+). Therefore, more than 40% of a phosphate replacer may possibly substitute synthetic phosphate to improve product yields in ground pork sausages, although further studies may be needed for improving the textural properties of the final products.