Enhancing mortadella formulations: Exploring the impact of curcumin microcrystals, cochineal carmine, and annatto dyes on sensory preferences, stability, and antioxidant potential

The effects of adding cochineal carmine and annatto dyes in five mortadella formulations made with curcumin microcrystals were compared, and the preference was evaluated and described sensorially. Based on the optimized formulation obtained with color parameters, two formulations were elaborated: curcumin microcrystals and cochineal carmine were added. During 60 days, pH, objective color, water retention capacity, lipid oxidation, and texture profile analyses were performed. The results demonstrate the possibility of excluding sodium erythorbate from formulations containing curcumin microcrystals. There was no significant difference in lipid oxidation between the samples, presenting at the end of 60 days a value of 0.11 mg and 0.10 mg of MDA kg−1 for the two samples, respectively. There were also no significant differences between the two samples or the evaluated storage times, and the average values obtained for pH, WRC, objective color, and TPA were expected for this type of cooked meat sausage. In the presence of curcumin microcrystals, the synthetic antioxidant, sodium erythorbate, can be eliminated from the formulations, as it does not affect the physical-chemical parameters studied, such as pH, water retention capacity, color objective, and texture profile. •Natural compounds have been used due to the growing concern of consumers regarding healthiness.•Curcumin has a high antioxidant potential and can be replaced by chemical additives.•Cochineal carmine and urucum are natural pigments that contribute to a good color of mortadella.•Pork mortadella was produced with curcumain as antioxidant and cochineal carmine and annatto as natural pigments.