Extension of the chilled storage life of smoked blue cod (Parapercis colias) by carbon dioxide packaging

Commercially prepared smoked blue cod ( Parapercis colias ), packaged aerobically, under vacuum and in carbon dioxide controlled atmosphere packs, was stored at + 3°C and - 1.5°C. Product stored aerobically on overwrapped polystyrene trays spoiled by 14 and 28 days respectively, and that in vacuum packs spoiled by 14 and 35 days respectively, when held at 3°C and - 1.5°C. In contrast, product in carbon dioxide packs remained acceptable until the 3°C and - 1.5°C storage trials ended after 49 and 113 days respectively. Microbial spoilage was first evident in overwrapped product stored aerobically and in vacuum-packed product as offensive putrid amine-like odours on pack opening. These odours were associated with the development of a predominantly Gram-negative spoilage microflora. Extension of product life afforded by the use of carbon dioxide controlled atmosphere packaging is attributable to a significant extension of the lag phase before spoilage microflora proliferation commenced and to the selection of a low-spoilage-potential lactic-acid-bacteria-dominated flora. Although the use of carbon dioxide packaging offers an export potential for chilled smoked blue cod, caution must be advocated until product safety, in respect to the growth of cold tolerant pathogens in the case of temperature abuse (>3°C), can be more fully evaluated.     

Quality of minimally processed carrots in perforation-mediated modified-atmosphere packaging (PM-MAP)

Studies were carried out to investigate the effect of PM-MAP on minimally processed carrots with different number of perforations (0, 4, 12 and control) on flexible package, stored at 2 °C temperature. The effect of PM-MAP on headspace oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration, weight loss, surface color, firmness, pH, total soluble solid, β-carotene and microbial load were evaluated. It was observed that equilibrium modified atmospheric condition of 5–7 % oxygen and 7.8 % carbon dioxide was achieved in 4 perforation pack. Whiteness index (WI) increased in all the samples from the initial value of 22.75 to a range of 30–35 within 8 days of storage. After that, it remained almost constant for all samples except for 0 perforation packs where a decreasing trend was observed. Chroma value (CV) of samples also followed similar trends like WI and reduced from initial value of 63.08 to a range of 50–55 within 8 days of storage and remained in a constant range during further storage. Firmness of carrot slices decreased to 22–24 N and 25–28 N for 4 and 12 perforation pack respectively from initial value of 30 N after 40 days of storage. Lower oxygen availability in 4 perforation pack was main reason behind lower microbial count (5.2 log₁₀ cfu/g) after 30 days of storage. Reduction of 5.52 % and 10.10 % in β-carotene content was observed in 4 and 12 perforation pack samples. Thus for PM-MAP, 150 g of carrot samples in 4 perforation packs proved to be better than other conditions.     

The microbiology and storage stability of vacuum packed lamb

Lamb joints (shoulders, loins and legs) stored in vacuum packs at 0–1°C remained unspoiled for 6 weeks, but since the aerobic storage life at 5°C (retail shelf life) of lamb after holding in vacuum packs at 0–1°C for 6 weeks was only 2 days, vacuum storage should be limited to a maximum of 4 weeks in practice. Brochothrix thermosphacta , Moraxella spp, and Moraxella-like organisms were predominant on aerobically spoiled lamb and the preservative effect of vacuum packing resulted from the inhibitory effects of the high carbon dioxide (>20%) and low oxygen concentrations (<1%) which developed in the packs. Brochothrix thermosphacta was not completely inhibited, however, and with lactic acid bacteria was the possible cause of cheesy/sour odours which terminated vacuum packed storage life.     

BOTULINAL TOXIN PRODUCTION IN VACUUM AND CARBON DIOXIDE PACKAGED MEAT DURING CHILLED STORAGE AT 2 AND 4C

This study was undertaken to determine if carbon dioxide packaging of meat afforded a food safety advantage over vacuum packaging with respect to botulinal toxin production during chilled storage. A cocktail of washed spores from five toxigenic clostridial strains – four reference Clostridium botulinum strains [types A, B (2 strains) and E] and a C. butyricum type E strain – was inoculated onto lamb chumps. Of these strains, two were psychrotolerant. The inoculated chumps were individually carbon dioxide packaged and duplicate packs were placed into storage at 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2C. All storage regimens included a weekly defrost cycle when meat surface temperatures increased by up to 6 to 7C during a 2 to 2.5 h period. After 84 days storage, packs were assessed for the presence of botulinal toxin using the mouse bioassay procedure. All packs contained botulinal toxin. To compare toxin production in vacuum and carbon dioxide packs at chill temperatures, the challenge trials were repeated for 4 and 2C storage. Packs were examined at regular intervals for toxin presence. Both pack types contained toxin after 21 and 48 days storage at 4 and 2C, respectively. In the unlikely, but not impossible, event that raw meat would be contaminated with psychrotolerant toxincapable clostridial spores, product safety, with respect to botulinal toxin presence after prolonged chilled storage, requires storage temperatures to be maintained below 2C for both vacuum and carbon dioxide packaged product.     

Growth of the psychrotrophic pathogens Aeromonas hydrophila, Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica on smoked blue cod (Parapercis colias) packed under vacuum or carbon dioxide

Commercially prepared smoked blue cod ( Parapercis colias ) was divided into 25-g subsamples which either served as uninoculated controls or were inoculated with a two-strain cocktail of one of the psychrotrophic pathogens Aeromonas hydrophila, Listeria monocytogenes or Yersinia enterocolitica. The inoculated and control subsamples were then either vacuum or carbon dioxide packed prior to storage at 3°C or −1.5°C. After various periods of storage, triplicate samples from both packaging treatments for the three pathogens and the corresponding uninoculated controls were removed and subjected to microbiological analysis. None of the three pathogens was found as a natural contaminant of the commercial product. In vacuum-packs all three psychrotrophic pathogens were able to grow during storage at 3°C. Reduction of the storage temperature to − 1.5°C retarded but did not prevent pathogen proliferation. Under carbon dioxide, only A. hydrophila was able to grow at 3°C and then only after a 21-day lag period. None of the psychrotrophic pathogens was able to grow under carbon dioxide at − 1.5°C. With the possible exception of A. hydrophila , pathogen numbers did not decline in carbon dioxide packs during 155 days storage at − 1.5°C. It is concluded that provided gross contamination with psychrotrophic pathogens prior to packaging does not occur, a 100% carbon dioxide controlled atmosphere can be used to extend the product life of smoked blue cod during storage at or below 0°C without compromising its safety in respect to growth of A. hydrophila, L monocytogenes or Y. enterocolitica.     

Gas exchange in modified atmosphere packaging. 2: Experimental results with strawberries

Strawberries were used to test a new model describing gas transport through micro-perforated polypropylene films and fruit respiration involved in modified atmosphere packaging. Some experiments were conducted with empty packs initially filled with either 100% N₂ or 100% O₂. Simulations agreed very well with experiments only if we replaced the cross-sectional area of the micro-perforations by areas of approximately half the actual areas in order to account for the resistance of air around the perforations. It is also possible to fit the model to gas concentration changes in packs filled with strawberries, although deviations have been due to the contamination of strawberries by fungi. the model was used to quantify the consequences of the variability of pack properties (number of micro-perforations per pack and cross-sectional area of these perforations) on equilibrium gas concentrations and to define minimum homogeneity requirements for modified atmosphere packaging.     

The retail display life of steaks prepared from chill stored vacuum and carbon dioxide-packed sub-primal beef cuts

Chilled striploins and cube rolls from ten Australian steers (grain-fed for 150 days) were trimmed of external fat and cut transversely into portions approximately 10 cm thick, each weighing between 750 and 1000 g. These 'retailer-ready' cuts were each wrapped in drip saver pads and slid inside a plastic sleeve before being individually placed into a clear plastic high oxygen barrier film, metallized film or conventional vacuum bag. Cuts in clear plastic and metallized film packs were packaged in an oxygen-free saturated carbon dioxide atmosphere (CO(2)-CAP), those in vacuum bags were conventionally vacuum-packed. All packs were returned to the chiller for further cooling. After 24 hr, half the clear plastic and metallized CO(2)-CAP packs were carbon dioxide master-packed in groups of eight. Retailer-ready cuts in both clear plastic and metallized film single unit and master-packed CO(2)-CAP packs were air freighted to New Zealand and sea freighted to Japan for assessment. The control vacuum packs were all consigned to New Zealand. Assessments in both countries after 39-89 days storage at between 0 °C and -1.0 °C indicated that fat colour stability limited the retail display life of steaks cut from meat in these retailer-ready packs to approximately 48 hr. In this regard, meat from single unit CO(2)-CAP, master pack CO(2)-CAP and vacuum packs performed similarly. Lean meat colour and sensory attributes remained acceptable for up to 48 hr after displayed product was rejected because of grey-green fat discoloration. The microbiological status of retailer-ready cuts removed from CO(2)-CAP packs after 89 days chilled storage was superior to that of cuts from vacuum packs. Clear plastic and metallized film CO(2)-CAP packs performed comparably.     

The performance of several oxygen scavengers in varying oxygen environments at refrigerated temperatures: implications for low-oxygen modified atmosphere packaging of meat

The oxygen scavenging capacity of four commercially available iron-based oxygen scavengers was studied. Individual oxygen scavenger sachets were placed in pouches and filled with 1%, 2%, 6%, 12% or 22% oxygen, 40% carbon dioxide and balance nitrogen, and stored at 3 °C or 10 °C, with or without a drip pad infused with water and monitored over 24 h. The four scavengers all reduced oxygen from the packs at the oxygen concentrations and temperatures tested. However, for all of the conditions measured, the scavengers did not absorb their nominal capacity in the 24-h period. In anoxic modified atmosphere packaging of beef steaks, it is essential to reduce residual oxygen levels to below 0.05% as quickly as possible to minimise the formation of metmyoglobin. While the scavengers tested were effective in removing oxygen, the rate of removal would appear not to be fast enough to create the anoxic conditions required to prevent metmyoglobin formation in beef steaks, particularly in those cuts, which are highly susceptible to metmyoglobin formation. Reproducibility was also a critical issue for the scavengers, particularly at low oxygen concentrations. None of the scavengers had a coefficient of variation of less than 20% at the low oxygen concentrations. Therefore, to obtain consistent results, it is recommended that multiple scavengers be used.     

Metmyoglobin Formation in Beef Stored in Carbon Dioxide Enriched and Oxygen Depleted Atmospheres

SUMMARY: A spectroreflectometric technique was used to determine the relative percentages of three myoglobin pigments, reduced myoglobin, oxymyoglobin and metmyoglobin at the surface of fresh beef. It was shown that, at constant humidity, the formation of metmyoglobin in beef was maximal at 6 + 3 mm Hg of oxygen at 0°C and 7.5 ± 3 mm Hg at 7°C for semitendinosus muscles. Carbon dioxide concentrations of 10% and higher had negligible effect on the formation of metmyoglobin, provided the oxygen pressure was above about 5%. At high partial pressures of carbon dioxide, absorption of carbon dioxide increased and the pH of the surface decreased. In air, the formation of metmyoglobin varied widely from muscle to muscle.     

The response of unripe Conference pears to modified atmosphere retail packaging

Unripe green Conference pears with initial firmness values of 46–55 N were sealed in modified atmosphere (MA) low density polyethylene (LDPE, 30μ) pillow packs and in perforated control packs on three dates during 1985–1986. Changes in pack atmosphere composition, skin chlorophyll content, flesh firmness and sensory quality were monitored during 14–20 days simulated shelf-life at 20°C. In MA packs, equilibrated atmospheres containing 5–9% CO₂ and < 5% O₂ developed within c. 3 days. Chlorophyll degradation was completely inhibited by MA and resumed when packs were perforated, but MA only partially retarded the rate of flesh softening. Variations in the rate of ripening changes in duplicate MA packs could not be explained simply by differences in pack atmospheres. Furthermore, pears retarded by MA packaging failed to develop the normal sweet, aromatic flavour and succulent, juicy texture of 'eating-ripe' fruit, even when the packs were perforated after 4 days.
The differences in the responses of pears and apples to MA packaging, and the limitations of using this technique for the commercial marketing of English pears are discussed.     

The effect of harvest date on the responses of Discovery apples to modified atmosphere retail packaging

In order to study effects of physiological maturity on responses of Discovery apples to modified atmosphere (MA) retail packaging, samples of fruit were picked at 3–4 day intervals over a 3-week period spanning the development of the climacteric rise in respiration and the normal marketing season for the variety. The apples were packed in MA (301∼.ethylene vinyl acetate) or perforated control packs and held under simulated marketing conditions at 10 or 20°C. The degree of modification of the pack atmospheres and the effects of MA packaging on fruit ripening changes were influenced by harvest date and related to the respiration rate of fruit when packed. MA packs were effective in retarding softening and skin colour changes in immediately pre-climacteric and early climacteric fruit. There was little risk of taint development, except during 14-day simulated marketing periods at 20°C. Little beneficial effect of MA packaging was found in apples harvested 4 days before the onset of the climacteric; relatively little deterioration occurred in such fruit in perforated control packs. Beneficial effects of MA packaging on ripening changes and quality attributes were reduced, and taint risk enhanced, when the technique was used for late picked fruit with much higher rates of respiration. Possible causes for the observed relationship between the different stages of physiological maturity of Discovery apples and their responses to MA packaging are discussed.     

Effect of residual oxygen on the colour, odour and taste of carbon dioxide-packaged beef, lamb and pork during short term storage at chill temperatures

Samples of boneless pork, lamb, beef (high and normal pH) were packaged in '100%' carbon dioxide atmospheres in foil laminate pouches. These pouches were fitted with a septum and a gas sampling port that allowed the introduction of air and removal of gas samples for analysis from the sealed packs. After sealing, measured volumes of air were introduced into test packs that had been gassed at a carbon dioxide volume to meat weight ratio of either 1 litre/kg or 2 litres/kg, to give initial atmospheres containing approximately 0·1, 0·2 and 1·0% oxygen. After 24 and 168 h storage at -1·5 ± 0·5°C, test packs were removed and compared with similarly treated control packs without added oxygen with respect to meat odour, taste and colour. No significant differences between the test and control packs in respect to odour or taste were evident with any meat type. The tendency to develop browning in response to the presence of residual oxygen within packs, increased in the order: pork, normal pH beef, normal pH lamb, high pH beef. Beef and lamb developed noticeable browning in packs containing more than 0·15% total oxygen while pork was able to tolerate 1% oxygen without obvious detrimental effects. For all meat types, the colour stability was greater in packs gassed to the higher gas volume to meat weight ratio.     

Continued inhibitory effect of carbon dioxide packaging on Listeria monocytogenes and other microorganisms on normal pH beef during abusive retail display

Beef steaks of normal pH (5.3–5.5) were inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes , individually packaged in saturated carbon dioxide atmosphere packaging (SCAP) for <3 h or 5 or 8 weeks or in vacuum packaging (VP) for <3 h, and stored at −1.5°C. After each storage period, 27 individually packaged steaks were removed from their storage packs, overwrapped and placed on retail display under conditions simulating gross temperature abuse (12.25°C). Other steaks were removed from their storage packs and rinsed to remove L. monocytogenes cells, which were re-inoculated onto freshly cut beef steaks to simulate cross-contamination. These crosscontaminated steaks were overwrapped and also subjected to abusive display. Meat pH did not change significantly during storage or retail display. During the retail display of steaks previously stored in SCAP, the lag phase of aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria was longer after prolonged storage compared to short (<3 h) exposure to carbon dioxide. For the same samples, L. monocytogenes failed to grow during retail display or grew only slightly after a prolonged lag phase (>75 h), even after only brief exposure time (<3 h) to carbon dioxide. In contrast, with cross-contaminated steaks, when the inocula had been exposed to SCAP or VP for a short time (<3 h) the L. monocytogenes lag phase was shorter (<20 h). Inocula from steaks stored in SCAP for 5 or 8 weeks did not grow on the cross-contaminated steaks. It is concluded that exposure of both the beef substrate and the L. monocytogenes inoculum to carbon dioxide during prolonged chilled storage does not increase the risk of growth of L. monocytogenes when that meat is subsequently placed on retail display, nor is there a large risk of growth of L. monocytogenes where cross-contamination from SCAP stored raw beef to fresh raw beef occurs prior to retail display.     

EFFECT OF NITRITE AND STORAGE TEMPERATURE ON THE ORGANOLEPTIC QUALITY AND TOXINOGENESIS BY Clostridium botulinum IN VACUUM-PACKAGED SIDE BACON

The effect of nitrite and storage temperature and toxinogenesis by Clostridium botulinum in vacuum-packed side bacon was investigated. In two series of experiments (A & B) bacon packs were prepared with levels of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm nitrite and inoculated with C botulinum at 10² spores/g and 10⁴ spores/g. Packs A were incubated at 20 and 30° C and packs B at 30°C only. Both were held for a maximum of 32 days and analyzed for toxin at intervals of 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 days. At 20°C none of the controls without nitrite was found to be toxic after 32 days. At 30°C inhibition of toxin formation at the higher nitrite levels was observed at 32 days. Organoleptic evaluation of the bacon packs stored at 30° C showed about one-third of the toxic samples examined were acceptable to the panel.     

Asparagus responds to controlled atmospheres in warm conditions

Asparagus spears held in warm conditions (20°C) for 4 days in controlled atmospheres (CA) ranging from 5 to 10% oxygen with 5–15% carbon dioxide had significantly longer residual shelf-life (≈4.5 days) in air than did check spears (2.6 days). This response was also reflected in sensory characteristics, with lower off-flavour ratings and higher flavour and acceptability ratings for CA-treated than for check spears. The level of response was similar across the range of atmospheres tested. Tests using plastic films differing in permeability demonstrated that modified atmosphere technology can be used to obtain the improvement in spear quality, but the gas permeability of the films tested was too low to provide a commercially useful pack. The potential for microperforated films for this application is discussed.     

Changes of Volatile Compounds, Lactic Acid Bacteria, pH, and Headspace Gases in Kimchi, a Traditional Korean Fermented Vegetable Product

ABSTRACT Headspace volatiles of Kimchi stored at 5 °C increased over a 7 d period by 20.0% and then decreased from 7 to 27 d by 8.3%. Forty volatile compounds including 18 sulfur compounds were identified in Kimchi. Lactic acid bacteria in Kimchi increased from 3.1 to 4.5 (1 × 10⁸cfu/mL) over a 17-d period and decreased by 40% from 17 to 27 d. As the storage time increased from 2 to 27 d, pH decreased from 4.3 to 3.8, headspace oxygen decreased from 14.3 to 1.3%, and headspace carbon dioxide increased from 27.7 to 45.3%. Enzymatic reactions and chemical oxidations in Kimchi explained the changes of volatile compounds, lactic acid bacteria, pH, headspace oxygen and carbon dioxide.     

Microbiological quality of sous-vide cook chill fish cakes during chilled storage (3 °C)

Fish cakes prepared from emperorbream ( Lethrinus lethrinus ) were vacuum packed (VP), conventionally cook-chilled (CCC) and sous-vide cook-chilled (SVCC) and examined for their microbiological quality and safety during chilled storage (3 °C) for a period of 3, 5 and 16 weeks, respectively, in comparison with conventional pack(CP). The shelf life of CP, VP, CCC and SVCC packs of fish cakes were 2, 2, 4 and 16 weeks, respectively, based on the acceptable break point of the overall sensory scores. The total bacterial counts were 5 log cfu g⁻¹, in CP, VP and CCC packs; and 3 log cfug⁻¹ in SVCC pack on sixteenth week. Total lactic acid bacteria were 2 log cfu g⁻¹ on 2 and 3 weeks in CP and VP, respectively. Staphylococci were detected in all packs on sixteenth week at 2 log cfu g⁻¹. Total bacilli were detected in CP and VP at 3 log cfu g⁻¹ level after 2 weeks. Aeromonads were detected after 1, 2 and 4 weeks in CP, VP and CCC packs at 3 log cfu g⁻¹. Total anaerobic sulphite-reducing clostridia were detected only in CP and CCC packs at 3 MPN counts g⁻¹ level on the final day.     

Preincubation time and the use of oxygen indicators in determining the microbiological quality of aseptically packed pea and tomato soup

In order to get accurate information about the preincubation time needed for viscous aseptic products, the growth characteristics of three food poisoning organisms Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus in pea soup, and one spoilage organism, Lactobacillus plantarum, in tomato soup, were followed during a preincubation period at 30 degrees C for 14 days. The sterile food packs were sealed into polyamidepolyethylene laminate bags containing different headspace gas concentrations (21% oxygen + 80% nitrogen, 5% oxygen + 95% nitrogen and 100% nitrogen). Bacterial growth was followed every second day by counting the number of colony forming units and following the headspace oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations. The bacterial strains differed in their growth characteristics, especially in their ability to consume oxygen from the headspace, and also in their ability to produce carbon dioxide. The headspace oxygen concentration was also followed by oxygen indicators in order to determine the correlation with the oxygen concentration of the headspace and the growth of bacteria. The bacterial growth followed more closely the concentration of carbon dioxide than the concentration of oxygen. It was concluded that further studies are needed to determine the preincubation period for viscous aseptic products in order to furnish accurate data on the growth characteristics of low numbers of bacteria in aseptic foods at different headspace gas compositions.     

Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Cultivated Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus L.) with Hydrophilic Films

ABSTRACT: Unique gas barrier properties of hydrophilic films (wheat gluten-based material and synthetic polymer) have been tested through practical application such as modified atmosphere packaging. Mushrooms have been packed under microporous and hydrophilic films and stored at 10 °C and 20 °C under high relative humidity (> 92%). Atmospheric and quality changes (cap opening, color) were assessed during storage. Unique steady state atmospheres, poor in both oxygen and carbon dioxide, were observed, regardless of the temperature and the hydrophilic film used, owing to their high selectivity to gas diffusion. A transitional phase characterized by a CO₂ partial pressure peak has been evidenced and could imply quality change. The proposed MAP model fit experimental data with a mean error of 0.88 kPa.