Effect of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) powder addition on nutritional and sensory attributes of chicken mortadella

The main objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the nutritional and sensory impacts of mortadella supplemented with various levels of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) powder (SP). Spirulina powder was investigated for its chemical composition, energy value, micronutrient concentration (mg/100 g), and functional qualities. The total amount of carotenoids, phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity were assessed in chicken breast flesh and SP. Different SP (0–5.0%) proportions were integrated to mortadella recipes. The formulated mortadella samples were investigated for their proximate composition, mineral content, total carotenoids, total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant activity, and sensory properties. SP possesses proteins, carbohydrates, crude fiber, ash, and lipids at 63.70, 15.84, 7.60, 7.49 and 5.37 g/100 g of dry sample, respectively. Water absorption capacity (WAC) and oil absorption capacity (OAC) of SP were 1.77 g and 1.65 mL/g of the sample, respectively. The results of the current study revealed that the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of SP were significantly higher than those of chicken breast by 71.29- and 15.38-fold, respectively. Crude protein content of the mortadella control sample (SP0) was 13.58%, which increased to 14.17%, 14.72%, 15.33%, 15.95% and 16.49% for mortadella samples enhanced with 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% SP, respectively. Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and selenium contents in mortadella samples, partially replaced with 5% SP, were approximately 2.27-, 1.21-, 1.28-, 1.02-, 1.46-, 3.91-, 1.21- and 1.08-fold higher, respectively, compared to the control sample without SP addition. The highest levels of total carotenoids, total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity were found in the mortadella samples integrated with 3%, 4% and 5% SP. In contrast, the control sample and those supplemented with 1% and 2% SP were absolutely low in these constituents. The highest results (8.06–8.07) for overall acceptance were observed in mortadella samples with 2% and 3% SP.