Sustainable Formulation of Chewing Candies Using Liver Hydrolysates with Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties

This study aimed to develop innovative functional gummy candies enriched with protein hydrolysates derived from porcine liver, enhancing their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. First, the overall consumer acceptability (OA) was assessed to determine the most suitable combination of gummy matrix components. Selected combinations were then analyzed for antioxidant activity (ABTS•+, DPPH•), antimicrobial effects, microbiological safety, and physicochemical characteristics. The incorporation of liver hydrolysates significantly increased antioxidant capacity. The highest activity was observed in sample GC5Pa24Ag, hydrolyzed with papain for 24 h and formulated with agar, showing ABTS•+ and DPPH• scavenging activities of (67.6 ± 0.98 µmol/g) and (49.14 ± 1.00%), respectively (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). Pepsin hydrolyzed samples (GC2Pe3Gl, GC2Pe6Gl, GC2Pe24Gl) exhibited significantly larger inhibition zones against <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> ATCC 13932, <i>Escherichia coli</i> ATCC 25922, and <i>Salmonella</i> enterica <i>subsp</i>. enterica <i>serovar Typhimurium</i> ATCC 14028 compared to the control (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Among all, GC5Pa24Ag demonstrated the broadest antimicrobial activity, with a 29.0 ± 0.2 mm inhibition zone against all tested pathogens. These findings suggest that porcine liver hydrolysates can be successfully incorporated into confectionery products to create functional gummies with potential health benefits, offering antioxidant protection and antimicrobial effects in a consumer-friendly form.