Static, Controlled (CO2) Atmosphere Packaging of Retail Ready Pork

Wrapped boneless pork loin roasts and slices were stored at 4°in bulk under constant CO₂ concentrations of 50% and 100% for 1 and 2 wks. Samples stored under 50% CO₂ for 2 wks could subsequently be displayed (aerobic) for 3 days without becoming unacceptable or for 6 days if previously held under 100% CO₂ for 14 days. Aerobic shelf-life at 4°of the latter samples equalled that of fresh pork chops under simulated retail display. Physicochemical characteristics during storage did not limit acceptability. Reusable master packs have application for distribution of retail ready cuts under controlled atmosphere packaging.     

不同包装条件下冷却肉品质变化及腐败菌相研究

为寻找冷却猪肉合理的包装方式,延长货架期,将猪后腿肉分别进行托盘包装、真空包装、高氧气调包装（20%CO₂+80%O₂）和低氧气调包装（65%CO₂+35%O₂）处理,并以无包装组为对照,测定样品在4℃贮藏过程中挥发性盐基氮（TVB-N）值、色差值a*、丙二醛（MDA）值、微生物菌落（菌落总数、假单胞菌菌落数和热杀索丝菌菌落数）和感官评分。结果表明:无包装和托盘包装冷却猪肉货架期不超过4 d,高氧气调包装（20%CO₂+80%O₂）货架期为6 d,真空包装和低氧气调包装（65%CO₂+35%O₂）货架期长达9 d。真空和气调包装均有利于延长冷藏猪肉货架期,但真空包装使肉呈暗红色。气调包装中O₂和CO₂的含量影响肉的品质,高氧气调包装有利于好氧菌假单胞菌和热杀索丝菌的生长繁殖,同时促进脂质氧化,但可以很好维持肉色,低氧气调包装（65%CO₂+35%O₂）可以抑制细菌的生长和脂肪氧化。综合各项评判结果,得到最佳包装方式为低氧包装（65%CO₂+35%O₂）。      

Effect of vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging on the quality of pork loin

The effect of packaging in protective atmospheres on the process of lipid oxidation, colour and water retention capacity of pork loin chops during refrigerated storage was investigated. The use of modified atmospheres with a high oxygen concentration (70%) acted as a pro-oxidation factor both for fatty acids and for cholesterol (an increase of 86.4% on the initial COPS content). No significant advantages were found in the use of these atmospheres concerning the colour of the meat. Vacuum packaging was seen to be an interesting alternative in the packaging of pork, due to the fact that it increases oxidative stability, which brings about greater colour stability and therefore increases the shelf life. The only disadvantage of this type of packaging is that it increases initial weight loss (5.1% on day 2 of storage).     

托盘和真空包装对冷却猪肉中MetMb还原活性的影响

在冷却肉的贮藏过程中,其肌红蛋白(Mb)被氧化为高铁肌红蛋白(MetMb),导致了冷却肉的褐变。研究了托盘包装和真空包装条件下,冷却肉自身的还原系统活性变化规律及其对肉色稳定性的影响。在2周的贮藏期内,真空与托盘包装冷却肉糜肌浆蛋白粗提液的还原活性持续下降;但真空包装组MetMb还原酶粗提液还原活力第1天到第14天活性差异不显著,托盘包装组前后差异显著。真空包装组在贮藏期间MetMb含量持续下降,但托盘包装组MetMb含量则持续上升,说明无氧条件有利于MetMb的还原。托盘包装组TBA在贮藏期间持续上生,但真空包装组TBA变化不明显。结果表明,托盘包装不利于冷却肉自身MetMb还原能力的维持,而真空包装的无氧环境,有利于MetMb的还原和肉色的保持。     

Shelf Life and Microbial Quality of Fresh-cut Mango Cubes Stored in High CO2 Atmospheres

ABSTRACT: Fresh-cut'Carabao'and'Nam Dokmai'mango cubes were stored in air or in high CO₂ atmospheres (3%, 5%, and 10%) at 5 °C and 13 °C. Freshly sliced'Carabao'mango cubes had a lower respiration rate and total bacterial count and higher L-ascorbic acid content and firmness than'Nam Dokmai'mango cubes. The shelf life of fresh-cut mango, based on browning discoloration and water-soaked appearance, was 6 d at 5 °C and 4 d at 13 °C for'Carabao'and 2 d at 5 °C and less than 1 d at 13 °C for'Nam Dokmai'. High CO₂ atmospheres retarded the development of water-soaked'Carabao'cubes at 5 °C and 13 °C and'Nam Dokmai'cubes at 5 °C. Texture of'Carabao'cubes was enhanced by high CO₂, but ethanol and L-ascorbic acid contents were not affected at 5 °C and 13 °C. Total bacterial count was lower in'Carabao'cubes than in'Nam Dokmai'cubes during storage at both temperatures, and a 10% CO₂ only reduced the bacterial count on'Carabao'and'Nam Dokmai'cubes stored at 13 °C. Bacterial flora in'Nam Dokmai'mango cubes consisted mostly of Gram-negative rods assigned primarily to phytopathogenic bacteria such as Pantoea agglomerans and Burkholderia cepacia . The genera of bacteria isolated from cubes stored in 10% CO₂ were similar to those from cubes on the initial day.     

Effect of soluble CO2 stabilisation and vacuum packaging in the shelf life of farmed sea bream and sea bass fillets

The objective of this study was to determine the differences of sensory, microbiological and chemical quality in vacuum-packaged fillets of sea bream and sea bass previously submitted to soluble gas solubilisation (SGS) with 100% CO₂, at 2 bar for 30 and 60 min and stored at chilled temperature for 15 days. Apart from pH value that showed a regular increase during chilled storage, the other chemical index [total volatile bases nitrogen (TVB-N), trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs)] had showed to be poor indicators of changes in quality of products. Final TVB-N values ranged from 16.0 to 17.4 mg N per 100 g and from 17.3 to 19.4 mg N per 100 g in sea bream and sea bass, respectively. Sensory evaluation resulted as the most reliable parameter of quality decay. The results show that SGS treatment kept the initial quality of fillets for longer time, which was particularly visible on the sea bream fillets, thus contributing to an extension in 2–3 days of the shelf life. SGS had also a positive effect in the delay of microbial growth.     

冷鲜猪肉在贮藏过程中生物胺含量变化及不同包装方式对生物胺含量变化的影响研究

目的 研究冷鲜猪肉在35℃下贮藏过程中生物胺的变化情况, 以及不同包装方式(高氧气调包装、高氧气调包装结合隔热材料、真空包装和真空包装结合隔热材料)对冷鲜猪肉贮藏过程中生物胺变化的影响。方法 将新鲜猪肉胴体快速冷却后切割, 按照不同包装方式分组包装, 以无包装为对照组, 在35℃下贮藏, 于0、12、24、36、48、60 h对96份样品中生物胺含量和种类进行检测, 分析不同包装条件下样品生物胺变化情况。结果 精胺和亚精胺在不同包装方式下0~60 h内均有检出; 腐胺和尸胺在4种包装方式和无包装方式下的含量始终较高。与对照组相比, 真空包装腐胺和尸胺检出时间延缓了24 h, 组胺和酪胺检出时间延缓了12 h; 在真空包装结合了隔热材料之后, 腐胺、尸胺、组胺和酪胺的检出时间延缓了12 h。与真空包装比, 高氧气调包装组胺始终未检出, 腐胺、尸胺和酪胺的检出时间延缓了12 h, 且含量更低, 在高氧气调包装结合了隔热材料之后, 这3种生物胺的检出时间进一步延缓12 h。结论 精胺和亚精胺是冷鲜猪肉中天然存在的生物胺; 腐胺、尸胺和酪胺是冷鲜猪肉腐败过程中产生的主要生物胺种类, 且随着贮藏时间的延长, 其含量显著增加, 其中腐胺和尸胺含量较高, 是影响冷鲜猪肉质量安全的主要生物胺。真空包装和高氧气调包装均能有效抑制生物胺的形成, 就包装方式而言, 相较于真空包装, 高氧气调包装能更有效地抑制生物胺的产生, 就有无隔热材料而言, 结合隔热材料能更有效地抑制生物胺的产生。     

Effect of muscle,ageing time and modified atmosphere packaging conditions on the colour,oxidative and microbiological stability of packed beef

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of two different vacuum ageing times (7 and 14 days) and the impact of the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) configuration (gas/product ratios: 0.5 and 1 and gas composition: 70% O₂ + 30% CO₂ and 40% O₂ + 30% CO₂ + 30% N₂) on the quality of fresh beef during subsequent storage at 4 °C. For this purpose, three separate experiments were performed. For each experiment, two different muscles (Longissimus dorsi and Biceps femoris) were sampled from four double‐muscled Belgian Blue beef carcasses. Next to colour, also the evolution in microbial load, pH, O₂ and CO₂ in the headspace and lipid oxidation at the meat surface were evaluated. A vacuum ageing for 14 days compared with 7 days resulted in a higher initial microbial load on the day of MAP packaging, which resulted finally in a significantly shorter shelf life. This ageing effect was less pronounced on the colour stability and lipid oxidation of the meat samples. No significant influence of the packaging configuration on any of the analysed parameters (colour, microbial load, pH and lipid oxidation at the meat surface) was observed.     

红提葡萄低O2和高CO2处理效果研究

以红提葡萄为试验材料,研究(0±0.2)℃,2.5%O2+5%CO2、2.5%O2+10%CO2、2.5%O2+15%CO2和8%、10%、12%O2条件下气体处理效果。结果表明:CO2对红提葡萄有明显的抑菌作用,(0±0.2)℃处理50d,2.5%O2协同5%、10%、15%CO2处理比单纯低8%、10%、12%O2处理效果好,腐烂率低,硬度变化小;2.5%O2,5%～10%CO2可以取得较好的保鲜效果;2.5%O2+15%CO2处理50d未见高CO2伤害症状,表明新疆产红提葡萄耐高CO2能力强;单纯低O2贮藏时,O2含量在±2%范围变化时就会对果肉硬度、果胶酶活力、PPO活力及SSC产生显著性影响(P<0.05)。     

Comparative effect of red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus), red beet root (Beta vulgaris) and betanin (E‐162) on colour and consumer acceptability of fresh pork sausages packaged in a modified atmosphere

Fresh pork sausages containing natural colorants, red yeast rice powder (Monascus purpureus; Frame^®) or a crude red beet root (Beta vulgaris) juice or commercial betanin (E‐162), at different concentrations, were packaged in an atmosphere containing 80% O₂ and 20% CO₂ and stored in the dark for 20 days. The following parameters were measured at 4 day intervals: instrumental colour (CIE L*, a*, b*, a*/b*, C* and h*), reflectance spectra, sensory discoloration (trained panel) and acceptability and willingness to purchase (habitual and non‐habitual consumer panels) under two different lighting displays (standard fluorescent and Promolux^® lamp). The use of colorants improved the colour properties of fresh pork sausages. Sausages with red yeast rice, red beet root juice and betanin had lower L* and h* and higher a* and a*/b* values than control samples. The colour properties of sausages with red beet root were the closest to control sausages, while sausages with red yeast rice had significantly lower b* values. Both natural colorants and betanin protected sausages from discoloration and extended acceptability and willingness to purchase by about 4 days, according to evaluation by habitual consumers under two different types of lighting display. Therefore, red beet root juice may be envisaged as the most suitable natural colorant for use in fresh pork sausages. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

The effect of packaging treatment on the storage quality of minimally processed bunched onions

Storage quality of minimally processed (MP) bunched onions, as affected by plastic film packaging, was investigated to determine the optimum packing method for this vegetable product. Five different packaging treatments, including two passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), two active MAP and a moderate vacuum packaging (MVP), were used for MP bunched onions. Quality attributes of the samples were evaluated periodically in terms of weight loss, colour, decay ratio, microbial counts and sensory properties during storage at 10 °C for 28 days. Various sealed‐packaging treatments did not significantly influence changes in colour of white stem and green leaf tissues, flesh weight loss and microbiological populations including mesophiles, psychrotrophs and lactic acid bacteria. However, sensory attributes and disease incidence were affected by packaging type. MVP with a gas‐permeable plastic film retained better quality bunched onions, with reduced microbial decay and visual sensory aspects, as compared with the other packages.     

Mathematical modelling of O2 consumption and CO2 production rates of whole mushrooms accounting for the effect of temperature and gas composition

Investigation of respiration rate of fresh produce, under different gas composition and temperatures, and respective mathematical modelling is central for the modified atmosphere packaging design. This work investigates the effect of temperature (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 °C) and gas composition (O₂ between 3 to 21% and CO₂ between 0 to 15%) on respiration rate of whole mushrooms. Oxygen and carbon dioxide respiration rates increased significantly (3–4 fold) as the temperature elevated from 4 to 20 °C and were in the range of 13.23 ± 3.12 to 102.41 ± 2.132 mL kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) and 14.33 ± 1.56 to 97.02 ± 2.51 mL kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) respectively. Low O₂ and high CO₂ levels reduced O₂ consumption and CO₂ production rates of whole mushrooms on average by a circa 47–60% at all temperatures as compared to the respiration rate at ambient air. Mathematical models were developed for RO₂ and RCO₂, by combining the Arrhenius and Michaelis–Menten uncompetitive equations. These models predicted well, O₂ consumption and CO₂ production rates of whole mushrooms as a function of both temperature and gas composition.     

The effect of modified atmosphere packaging with carbon monoxide on the storage quality of master-packaged fresh pork

Modified atmosphere packaging with carbon dioxide is effective for prolonging shelf-life of fresh meat. Addition of carbon monoxide to the system provides the advantage of enhancing meat colour. The study objective was to determine the effect of CO₂-MAP + 0.4% CO, vs. 100% CO₂-MAP, on the bacteriology and colour of retail-ready fresh pork stored for 8 weeks in a master-package system. Total plate counts were not affected and listeria was present on meat from both treatments. Colour was enhanced with the inclusion of CO, while no effect on lipid oxidation was observed. Use of CO in MAP provides sufficient storage life and product colour quality to permit shipment of fresh pork to distant markets. However, given the stable fresh colour of CO-treated meat and the lack of inhibition of pathogen growth by CO, there is concern that CO-MAP under certain conditions may pose a food safety risk.     

Effect of nano‐TiO2‐LDPE packaging on microbiological and physicochemical quality of Pacific white shrimp during chilled storage

Nano‐TiO₂‐modified low‐density polyethylene (NTLDPE) packaging was prepared by blending LDPE with nano‐TiO₂. The effects of NTLDPE packaging on quality of Pacific white shrimp during storage at 4 °C were investigated. Results showed that NTLDPE lowered the K value by 28.50%, while increased sensory score by 30.77% in comparison with the control. NTLDPE packaging retarded the decrease of whiteness and water holding capacity and the increase of melanosis score based on the signs of freshness and deterioration of shrimp. Furthermore, NTLDPE packaging reduced total viable counts (TVC) by 6.42% and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N) contents were 14.82% lower than that of control. TVB‐N content and TBARS value, as well as polyphenol oxidase activity and TVC, were maintained and shrimp remained a commercial acceptability for 8 days. The overall results indicated that NTLDPE packaging could preserve the quality and extend the shelf‐life of Pacific white shrimp.     

Combined effect of MAP and thyme essential oil on the microbiological,chemical and sensory attributes of organically aquacultured sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fillets

The present study evaluated the combined effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) using two different gas mixtures (40% CO₂/50% N₂/10% O₂; treatment M1, 60% CO₂/30% N₂/10% O₂, treatment M2), and thyme oil (0.2% v/w, T) used as a natural preservative, on the quality and shelf life extension of fresh filleted sea bass, product of organic aquaculture, during refrigerated storage (4± 0.5 °C), for a period of 21 days. Aerobically packaged sea bass fillets (A) were used as control samples. The dominant bacteria in the microflora of sea bass fillets, irrespective of treatment, were the pseudomonads and the H₂S-producing bacteria while lactic acid bacteria were also part of the dominant microflora. Total viable counts for fresh sea bass fillets stored aerobically exceeded 7 log CFU/g after 7 days, while treatments A+T, M1, M2 and M2+T reached the same value on days 9, 10, 12 and 19, respectively. Among the chemical indices determined, TBA values were within the good quality limits (2–4 mg MDA/kg), during the sensory shelf lives of sea bass samples, irrespective of treatment. TVB-N proved to be a suitable index for the spoilage of sea bass fillets stored at 4 °C. Samples A and A+T, M1, M2, M2+T exceeded the proposed upper TVB-N acceptability limit (10 mg N/100 g) on days 6, 8, 9, 13 and 17 of storage respectively. TMA-N values of the samples A, A+T and M1, M2, M2+T exceeded the proposed limit (4 mg N/100 g) on days 6, 9, 9–10, 13 and 19 of storage, respectively, and correlated well with the microbiological data, indicating that along with TVB-N, TMA-N may serve as a useful index for sea bass fillets spoilage. As regards sensory evaluation, the presence of thyme oil proved to improve the sensory quality of sea bass fillets when used in combination with MAP2, providing a shelf life of 17 days as compared to 6 days of the control samples.     

Effects of packaging method and storage time on the chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of Turkish pastirma - A dry cured beef product

The effects of packaging method (aerobic packaging (AP), vacuum packaging (VP) or modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)), the form of pastirma (sliced or non-sliced) and storage time (0, 15, 30, 60, 90 or 120 days) on the chemical, microbiological and sensory properties of a Turkish pastirma were investigated. Overall, MAP preserved chemical, microbiological and sensory properties of Turkish pastirma better than AP or VP. Very high correlation coefficients (almost all >0.90) were observed between subjective quality parameters (sensory properties) and objective quality parameters (TBARS, hexanal content, L^*, a^*, and b^*), which suggests that sensory panel was able to determine the quality changes over storage time precisely. Based on the results of this study, MAP should be the preferred choice of packaging in order to preserve overall quality of Turkish pastirma and its implication for pastirma packaging may increase pastirma’s current share in the processed meat product market.     

Combined effect of active coating and modified atmosphere packaging on prolonging the shelf life of low-moisture Mozzarella cheese

In this work, the effect of active coating on the shelf life of low-moisture Mozzarella cheese packaged in air and modified atmosphere (MAP) was studied. The active coating was based on sodium alginate (2%, wt/vol) and potassium sorbate (1%, wt/vol). The MAP was made up of 75% CO₂ and 25% N₂ (MAP1), 25% CO₂ and 75% N₂ (MAP2), or 50% CO₂ and 50% N₂ (MAP3). The product quality decay was assessed by monitoring microbiological and sensory changes during storage at 4, 8, and 14°C. Results showed that the combination of active coating and MAP was able to improve the preservation of low-moisture Mozzarella cheese. Specifically, the shelf life increased up to 160 d for samples stored at 4°C, and 40 and 11 d for those at 8 and 14°C, respectively. A faster quality decay for untreated samples packaged in air was observed. In particular, the Pseudomonas spp. growth and the appearance of molds were responsible for product unacceptability. The combination of active coating and MAP represents a strategic solution to prolong the shelf life of low-moisture Mozzarella cheese and to ensure the safety of the product under thermal abuse conditions.