N-Nitrosodibutylamine and other Volatile Nitrosamines in Cured Meat Packaged in Rubber Nettings

Results from investigations of N-nitroso-n-dibutylamine (NDBA) in cured meat are compared from investigations in Denmark, the USA and Canada. NDBA was detected in very few samples and in quantities that were very low. Cured meats packaged in plastic wrappings or cotton nettings did not contain any NDBA. All cured meat packaged in elastic rubber nettings on the Danish market cannot contain more than 0.5 ppb NDBA.     

Literature compilation of volatile N-nitrosamines in processed meat and poultry products - an update

ABSTRACT

A compilation of volatile N-nitrosamine levels in processed (e.g., cured, canned, smoked) meat and poultry products is presented. Over 1800 samples of processed meat products including bacon, ham, salami, sausage, and various other processed meat and poultry products have been examined for the presence of eight volatile N-nitrosamines. The database compiled from the literature is based on 25 references published for the period of 1985 to 2018 from 14 countries. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP), and N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), are the most frequently identified volatile N-nitrosamines occurring in processed meat and poultry products. N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), and N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA) are also frequently observed to a lesser extent. The processed meat and poultry products with the highest levels of volatile N-nitrosamines were pork (fried, fat only eaten), poultry (fried), poultry (spiced, grilled), and bacon (fried).     

N-nitrosamines and residual nitrite in cured meats from the Dutch market

A total of 140 samples of 16 kinds of cured meats were analyzed for contents of residual nitrite and N-nitrosamines. Nitrite was determined by reaction with sulfanilamide/naphthylethylenediamine and colorimetric measurement. N-nitrosamines were isolated from the samples by vacuum distillation and determined by gas-chromatography with chemiluminescence detection (GC-TEA). In six samples no nitrite was detectable (less than 1 mg NaNO2/kg), the remaining samples contained 1-140 mg NaNO2/kg, median value 6.8 mg/kg. In 46 samples (33%) no N-nitrosamines were detected, i.e. less than 0.1-0.5 microgram/kg of the individual nitrosamines, depending upon their structure. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) was the nitrosamine present most frequently, in 75 samples, contents were 0.1-0.9 microgram/kg, mean 0.3 microgram/kg. Other N-nitrosamines found were: N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP), 10 times, 0.3-25 micrograms/kg; N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), three times, 0.2-0.9 microgram/kg; N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), three times, 1.3-4.2 micrograms/kg; N-nitrosomorpholine, once, 0.7 microgram/kg and N-nitrosothiazolidine (NTHZ), 36 times, 0.5-91 micrograms/kg, mean 5.7 micrograms/kg. NTHZ was found most often and with the highest contents in smoked products. Frying of bacon and cured, smoked pork bellies led to substantially increased levels of NPYR in both products, and for the pork bellies also of NTHZ. In five samples of cured, smoked pork bellies after frying NTHZ-contents of 3.6-490 micrograms/kg (mean 179) were found. No correlation between residual nitrite levels and N-nitrosamine contents could be established. Investigations during the nineteen seventies gave much higher levels for NDMA, NDEA, NPIP and NPYR in Dutch cured meats than now found; at that time NTHZ was not measured.     

LIPID OXIDATION AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF FRESH AND CURED SAUSAGES FROM α-LINOLENIC ACID ENRICHED PORK

Forty-eight female piglets were raised with four levels of α-linolenic acid (0, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5%) to determine the effect of dietary fat on the fatty acid composition, sensory and storage stability of pork products. The degree of polyunsaturation in neutral lipids and phospholipids were increased significantly by the dietary LNA. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) vaues of freshly prepared breakfast sausages with vacuum packaging remained low, but those of the loosely packaged, i. e., nonvacuumized, sausages increased more than 3 times during the 48 h storage period. The TBARS values of breakfast sausages frozen-stored for 3 months showed extensive lipid oxidation. The dietary LNA treatments and packaging had significant effects on the susceptibility of breakfast sausages to lipid oxidation. However, the oxidative stability of cured products was not affected by the dietary treatments. The results indicated that the pork enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids could be used in cured products or uncured meat products protected by ‘hot vacuum packaging’without any sensory or quality deterioration due to lipid oxidation.     

Time-dependent depletion of nitrite in pork/beef and chicken meat products and its effect on nitrite intake estimation

The food additive nitrite (E249, E250) is commonly used in meat curing as a food preservation method. Because of potential negative health effects of nitrite, its use is strictly regulated. In an earlier study we have shown that the calculated intake of nitrite in children can exceed the acceptable daily intake (ADI) when conversion from dietary nitrate to nitrite is included. This study examined time-dependent changes in nitrite levels in four Swedish meat products frequently eaten by children: pork/beef sausage, liver paté and two types of chicken sausage, and how the production process, storage and also boiling (e.g., simmering in salted water) and frying affect the initial added nitrite level. The results showed a steep decrease in nitrite level between the point of addition to the product and the first sampling of the product 24 h later. After this time, residual nitrite levels continued to decrease, but much more slowly, until the recommended use-by date. Interestingly, this continuing decrease in nitrite was much smaller in the chicken products than in the pork/beef products. In a pilot study on pork/beef sausage, we found no effects of boiling on residual nitrite levels, but frying decreased nitrite levels by 50%. In scenarios of time-dependent depletion of nitrite using the data obtained for sausages to represent all cured meat products and including conversion from dietary nitrate, calculated nitrite intake in 4-year-old children generally exceeded the ADI. Moreover, the actual intake of nitrite from cured meat is dependent on the type of meat source, with a higher residual nitrite levels in chicken products compared with pork/beef products. This may result in increased nitrite exposure among consumers shifting their consumption pattern of processed meats from red to white meat products.     

反复冻融的猪肉蛋白对N-亚硝胺形成量的影响

目的:探讨反复冻融的猪肉蛋白对N-亚硝胺形成量的影响。方法:设计两个体外模拟反应系统,模拟反应体系Ⅰ只含有Na NO2,模拟反应体系Ⅱ由二乙胺盐酸盐(DEA·HCl)和Na NO2组成。将反复冻融(0、1、2、3、4、7、10次)造成的不同氧化程度的肌肉蛋白(muscle protein,Mep)、肌浆蛋白(sarcoplasmic protein,SP)和肌原纤维蛋白(myofibrillar protein,MP)分别加入上述两个反应系统发生亚硝化反应,测定N-亚硝基二乙胺(N-nitrosodiethylamine,NDEA)的形成量,同时测定硫代巴比妥酸反应物(thiobarbituric acid reactive substance,TBARS)值、羰基和巯基含量等指标。结果:系统Ⅱ中NDEA的形成量是系统Ⅰ的20~80倍,表明底物DEA·HCl存在对NDEA的形成产生显著影响(P0.05)。反复冻融4次后,3种蛋白的羰基含量显著增加(P0.05),巯基含量显著下降(P0.05),意味着猪肉蛋白均发生了明显的蛋白氧化,其中以SP的氧化速率最快,氧化程度最严重,形成的NDEA量最多,Mep次之,MP氧化程度相对较轻,形成的NDEA量相对较少。结论:反复冻融造成的蛋白氧化促进了NDEA的形成。因而在肉品冻藏过程中应防止温度波动,避免反复冻融引起蛋白氧化,进而控制N-亚硝胺的形成。     

Absence of volatile N-nitrosamines in cooked nitrite-free cured muscle foods

Nitrite-free cured pork systems were prepared using the preformed cooked cured-meat pigment (CCMP) and sodium ascorbate. Absence of volatile N-nitrosamines in cooked nitrite-free systems was confirmed using a gas chromatography-thermal energy analyzer (GC-TEA) methodology. Similar results were obtained when cod, cod surimi or mixtures containing pork with 15 or 50% cod or cod surimi were used. However, counterpart samples cured with sodium nitrite (156 ppm) and sodium ascorbate (550 ppm) produced N-nitrosodimethylamine at 1·0 ppb levels or less. Results demonstrate that nitrite-free curing of meat and meat/fish systems containing the preformed CCMP is successful in yielding products devoid of volatile N-nitrosamines.     

Oxidation in HiOx-packaged pork Longissimus muscle predisposes myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins to N-nitrosamine formation in nitrite-curing solution

The effect of meat protein in situ oxidation on the formation of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) was investigated. Fresh minced pork was untreated (Con) or treated with 700 mg/kg α-tocopherol (Toc) or 300 mg/kg tea polyphenols (PPE), packaged in a HiOx atmosphere (78.8% O₂, 18.8% CO₂, 2.4% N₂), then stored at 2 ± 1 °C for up to 10 days. Crude myofibrillar (MP) or sarcoplasmic (SP) protein (20 mg/mL) extracted from stored meat was reacted with 43 μM sodium nitrite at 80 °C for 1 h. Lipid oxidation was totally inhibited in PPE pork but increased in Con and Toc samples after 10 days. There was significant protein oxidation (losses of sulfhydryls, formation of protein carbonyls) in both MP and SP in all samples during storage. However, the Con group suffered more extensive protein oxidation than Toc and PPE and produced more NDEA (P < 0.05), indicating that protein oxidation promoted nitrosation.     

肉制品中9种N-亚硝胺测定方法的建立

建立超声波提取-固相萃取-气相色谱-氮磷检测(UE-SPE-GC-NPD)和超声波提取-固相萃取-液相色谱-紫外检测(UE-SPE-HPLC-UV)肉制品中9种N-亚硝胺的方法。选取二氯甲烷作为提取试剂,探讨萃取时间、有机溶剂用量和萃取功率对提取效果的影响,比较C18、中性氧化铝和活性炭3种固相萃取柱对超声波提取的目标物的净化作用。结果表明:样品经40 mL二氯甲烷在400 W功率下提取20 min,N-亚硝胺的峰面积达到最大值,即提取效果最好。通过回收率试验选取活性炭固相萃取小柱为样品净化。UE-SPE-GC-NPD的回收率在66.80%~93.89%之间,其精密度在1.39%~3.07%之间。UE-SPE-HPLC-UV的回收率在65.80%~93.20%之间,其精密度均在1.19%~3.42%之间,该方法简便、快速,具有良好的灵敏度、重复性,适用于同时测定肉及肉糜制品中9种N-亚硝胺类化合物的含量。     

Impact of cooking,cooling, and subsequent refrigeration on the growth or survival of Clostridium perfringens in cooked meat and poultry products

In January 1999, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) finalized performance standards for the cooking and chilling of meat and poultry products in federally inspected establishments. More restrictive chilling (stabilization) requirements were adopted despite the lack of strong evidence of a public health risk posed by industry practices employing the original May 1988 guidelines (U.S. Department of Agriculture FSIS Directive 7110.3). Baseline data led the FSIS to estimate a "worst case" of 10(4) Clostridium perfringens cells per g in raw meat products. The rationale for the FSIS performance standards was based on this estimate and the assumption that the numbers detected in the baseline study were spores that could survive cooking. The assumptions underlying the regulation stimulated work in our laboratory to help address why there have been so few documented outbreaks of C. perfringens illness associated with the consumption of commercially processed cooked meat and poultry products. Our research took into account the numbers of C. perfringens spores in both raw and cooked products. One hundred ninety-seven raw comminuted meat samples were cooked to 73.9 degrees C and analyzed for C. perfringens levels. All but two samples had undetectable levels (<3 spores per g). Two ground pork samples contained 3.3 and 66 spores per g. Research was also conducted to determine the effect of chilling on the outgrowth of C. perfringens spores in cured and uncured turkey. Raw meat blends inoculated with C. perfringens spores, cooked to 73.9 degrees C, and chilled according to current guidelines or under abuse conditions yielded increases of 2.25 and 2.44 log10 CFU/g for uncured turkey chilled for 6 h and an increase of 3.07 log10 CFU/g for cured turkey chilled for 24 h. No growth occurred in cured turkey during a 6-h cooling period. Furthermore, the fate of C. perfringens in cooked cured and uncured turkey held at refrigeration temperatures was investigated. C. perfringens levels decreased by 2.52, 2.54, and 2.75 log10 CFU/g in cured turkey held at 0.6, 4.4, and 10 degrees C, respectively, for 7 days. Finally, 48 production lots of ready-to-eat meat products that had deviated from FSIS guidelines were analyzed for C. perfringens levels. To date, 456 samples have been tested, and all but 25 (ranging from 100 to 710 CFU/g) of the samples contained C. perfringens at levels of <100 CFU/g. These results further support historical food safety data that suggest a very low public health risk associated with C. perfringens in commercially processed ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.     

蒸煮火腿加工过程中影响二乙基亚硝胺形成的关键因素

应用气相色谱与质谱联用(GC/MS)方法检测蒸煮火腿生产过程中二乙基亚硝胺(NDEA)含量,研究其形成的关键因素,包括加工温度及NaNO2的含量,并探讨了NDEA的形成量随着生产工艺点的变化情况。结果表明,通过GC/MS能够准确测定蒸煮火腿中的NDEA含量,而在原料肉和腌制肉中没有或含量极微的NDEA,证明了NDEA是在蒸煮阶段产生并积累。蒸煮温度是NDEA形成的催化剂及必需条件。产品中的NDEA含量随着NaNO2添加量的增加而明显增大。     

Zn-porphyrin formation in cured meat products: Effect of added salt and nitrite

Zn-porphyrin (Zn-pp) was quantified by fluorescence spectroscopy in the cured and dry cured meat products: Parma ham, Iberian ham, dry-cured ham with added nitrite, cooked ham with added nitrite, raw ham meat, raw bacon and Karree-Speck. The highest amount of Zn-pp was found in dry-cured Parma ham and Iberian ham, while the use of nitrite as curing agent was found to inhibit completely the formation of Zn-pp in meat products. A positive correlation between both Zn content and Fe content and the logarithmic transformed Zn-pp content (measured as fluorescence intensity I_fl) was found for the different cured and dry cured meat products, with correlation coefficients of 0.79 (p < 0.001) and 0.71 (p < 0.01), respectively. Log I_fl correlates best with the Zn content, indicating that the formation of Zn-pp is proportional to the Zn content. A model system with vacuum packed pork in brine with different added levels of sodium chloride with or without nitrite and Zn acetate was investigated in order to further elucidate the mechanism of Zn-pp formation. Zn-pp increased with time (up to 42 days investigated) in non-cured meat and for meat cured solely with NaCl lower than 9%. Addition of nitrite or Zn(II) in the curing brine was found to inhibit formation of Zn-pp confirming the observations from the various cured meat products. It is suggested that a chloride anion assisted dissociation of iron from myoglobin could be rate-determining for Zn-pp formation in meat products.     

Nitrosamine Formation in Processed Hams as Related to Reformulated Elastic Rubber Netting

A survey of boneless hams processed in elastic rubber nettings showed that 32 of 59 contained over 100 ppb N-nitrosodibenzylamine (NDBzA) on the surface. These findings demonstrated the need to reduce the nitrosamine content. Nettings made with rubber thread reformulated with zinc diisobutyldithiocarbamate vulcanizing agent were evaluated for their effect on reducing the nitrosamine content. The N-nitrosodiisobutylamine (NDiBA) values ranged from 4.6 to 33.5 ppb (mean 16.1 ppb) compared to 52.3 to 739.9 ppb NDBzA(mean 191.2 ppb) in the control hams. No detectable nitrosamines were found in the unused experimental nettings. The low amounts of NDiBA found on the outer surface of these hams suggested that the use of these new nettings would provide a beneficial alternative to nettings currently in use.     

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with α-Tocopheryl Acetate on the Stability of Reformed and Restructured Low Nitrite Cured Turkey Products

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of sodium (Na) nitrite reduction on the oxidative and colour stability of reformed and restructured cured cooked turkey products manufactured from meat containing high and low levels of dietary α-tocopheryl acetate. Turkeys were randomly assigned to either a control group, fed a basal α-tocopheryl acetate diet (20mg/kg feed), or a treatment group fed a supplemented α-tocopheryl acetate diet (600mg/kg feed). Diets were fed ad libitum from day 1 until slaughter on day 147. Breast meat from control and treatment groups was used to manufacture cured reformed cooked turkey ham and cured restructured cooked turkey patties. Residual levels of 60 and 120mg Na nitrite/kg of meat were used. Turkey products were packaged in either overwrap or vacuum packaging and stored under refrigerated (4°C) illuminated display for 10 days. Results showed that dietary supplementation with α-tocopheryl significantly (p<0·05) improved the oxidative and colour stability of all low nitrite products produced when compared to non-supplemented controls.     

DEHA-plasticized PVC for retail packaging of fresh meat

 A selection of frequently consumed meat products were packed in two commercial types of plasticized PVC film with declared plasticizer compositions of 11 and 21% di-(ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA), respectively. The meat products were analysed for DEHA after packaging and storage until their “use by” date. Pretreatment of the meat, including cutting, chopping, cooking and packaging, was performed according to normal practice in a Danish supermarket. All samples contained DEHA. In general the investigation showed that a high fat content in or at the surface of the meat and/or a high storage temperature and/or repeated repackaging with new film during treatment gave rise to the greatest amount of DEHA migration from the film into the meat. No significant differences in DEHA migration could be seen when comparing the two films, although they were quite different in terms of plasticizer composition. The DEHA concentration at the “use by” date in fresh lean trimmings and slices of pork leg was 1 – 2 mg/kg, whereas neck and strip loin with some fat at the surface contained about 5 – 10 mg/kg. More fatty types of meat such as minced beef and pork with 18 – 20% fat, packaged once in plasticized PVC, contained around 20 mg DEHA/kg. When previously packaged loin was cut into steaks or chops, repackaged, minced and repackaged again, the DEHA concentration doubled to around 40 mg/kg. Finally if meatballs were then produced from the said mince, repackaged and stored at 65°C for 24 h, the DEHA concentration reached 100 mg/kg. Based on the evaluations of DEHA given by the EU Scientific Committee for Food, the National Food Agency considers concentrations of DEHA in foods higher than 18 mg/kg to be unacceptable. Received: 24 June 1997     

DEHA-plasticized PVC for retail packaging of fresh meat

 A selection of frequently consumed meat products were packed in two commercial types of plasticized PVC film with declared plasticizer compositions of 11 and 21% di-(ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA), respectively. The meat products were analysed for DEHA after packaging and storage until their “use by” date. Pretreatment of the meat, including cutting, chopping, cooking and packaging, was performed according to normal practice in a Danish supermarket. All samples contained DEHA. In general the investigation showed that a high fat content in or at the surface of the meat and/or a high storage temperature and/or repeated repackaging with new film during treatment gave rise to the greatest amount of DEHA migration from the film into the meat. No significant differences in DEHA migration could be seen when comparing the two films, although they were quite different in terms of plasticizer composition. The DEHA concentration at the “use by” date in fresh lean trimmings and slices of pork leg was 1 – 2 mg/kg, whereas neck and strip loin with some fat at the surface contained about 5 – 10 mg/kg. More fatty types of meat such as minced beef and pork with 18 – 20% fat, packaged once in plasticized PVC, contained around 20 mg DEHA/kg. When previously packaged loin was cut into steaks or chops, repackaged, minced and repackaged again, the DEHA concentration doubled to around 40 mg/kg. Finally if meatballs were then produced from the said mince, repackaged and stored at 65°C for 24 h, the DEHA concentration reached 100 mg/kg. Based on the evaluations of DEHA given by the EU Scientific Committee for Food, the National Food Agency considers concentrations of DEHA in foods higher than 18 mg/kg to be unacceptable. Received: 24 June 1997     

The occurrence of volatile N-nitrosamines in Estonian meat products

N-Nitrosamines (NAs) are a group of carcinogens, which have been detected in various meat products. The level of five NAs, namely N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosodibutylamine, N-nitrosopiperidine, and N-nitrosopyrrolidine was determined in 386 various samples of meat during 2001–2005. Raw, fried, grilled, smoked, pickled, and canned meat products were analyzed. For a sample cleaning the two-step solid-phase extraction with Extrelut and Florisil sorbents was used. NAs were separated by gas chromatography and detected by positive-ion chemical ionization using ammonia as reagent gas. The HP 6890 Plus GC/HP 5973 MSD was used in the selected ion-monitoring mode with pulsed splitless injection. In this work, the limit of detection and the limit of quantitation of NA were approximately 0.09 and 0.29 μg/kg, respectively, with about 85% recovery. NDMA was noted in above 88% of samples, NDEA in 27%, NPYR in 90%, NPIP in 65%, and NDBA in 33% at the mean levels of 0.85, 0.36, 4.14, 0.98, and 0.37 μg/kg, respectively. The level of total volatile NAs with the mean of 3.97 μg/kg was calculated.     

Survival of Listeria monocytogenes during storage of ready-to-eat meat products processed by drying, fermentation, and/or smoking

The survival of Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated on 15 ready-to-eat meat products made using drying, fermentation, and/or smoking. The products were obtained from six processors and included summer sausage, smoked cured beef, beef jerky, snack stick, and pork rind and crackling products. The water activity of the products ranged from 0.27 (pork rinds and cracklings) to 0.98 (smoked cured beef slices). Products were inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes, repackaged under either vacuum or air, and then stored either at room temperature (21degrees C) or under refrigeration (5 degrees C) for 4 to 11 weeks. Numbers of L. monocytogenes fell for all products during storage, ranging from a decrease of 0.8 log CFU on smoked cured beef slices during 11 weeks under vacuum at 5 degrees C to a decrease of 3.3 log CFU on a pork rind product stored 5 weeks under air at 21degrees C. All of the products tested could be produced under alternative 2 of the U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations mandating control of L. monocytogenes on ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. For many of the products, 1 week of postprocessing storage prior to shipment would act as an effective postlethality treatment and would allow processors to operate under alternative I of these regulations.     

Effect of irradiation and packaging conditions after cooking on the formation of cholesterol and lipid oxidation products in meats during storage

The effect of irradiation and packaging conditions on the content of cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) and lipid oxidation in cooked turkey, beef, and pork during storage was studied. Ground turkey leg, beef, and pork were cooked, packaged either in oxygen-permeable or oxygen-impermeable bags, and irradiated at 0 or 4.5 kGy. Lipid oxidation and COPs were determined after 0 and 7 days of storage at 4°C. Packaging of cooked meat was more important than irradiation in developing COPs and lipid oxidation in cooked meats during storage. 7-Hydroxycholesterol, 7β-hydroxycholesterol, β-epoxide, and 7-ketocholesterol were among the major COPs formed in cooked turkey, beef, and pork after storage, and their amounts increased dramatically during the 7-day storage in aerobic conditions. Irradiation had no significant effect on the amounts of any of the COPs found in cooked turkey and beef, but increased (P<0.05) the amounts of - plus 7β-hydroxycholesterol, β-epoxide, 7-ketocholesterol, and total COPs in aerobically packaged cooked pork. The amounts of COPs and lipid oxidation products (TBARS) closely related to the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids in meat. The results indicated that the composition of fats in meat is important on the oxidation rates of lipids and cholesterol, and packaging is far more important than irradiation in the formation of COPs and lipid oxidation in cooked meat.     

Cholesterol oxidation products in irradiated raw meat with different packaging and storage time

The effect of irradiation and packaging conditions on the formation of cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) as well as lipid oxidation products was determined in raw turkey leg, beef, and pork loin meat during 7 days of storage. Ground turkey leg, beef, and pork loin muscles were prepared as patties. The patties were individually packaged either in oxygen-permeable or impermeable bags, irradiated at 0 or 4.5 kGy using a Linear Accelerator, and stored at 4°C. The COPs such as 7-hydroxycholesterol, 7β-hydroxycholesterol, and 7-ketocholesterol were detected in fresh raw meats at 0 day at the level of 10.9 to 49.2 μg/g lipid. After 7 days of storage, other COPs such as epoxides, 20-hyroxycholesterol, and choletanetriol were formed in mainly aerobically packaged and irradiated raw meats. Packaging effect was more crucial on the cholesterol and lipid oxidation than irradiation. In aerobically packaged and irradiated meats, turkey leg muscles had higher COPs value than beef or pork did. COPs and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values had a strongly positive correlation in turkey leg and pork. But, cholesterol oxidation in beef proceeded in irradiated and aerobically stored samples despite of its low level of TBARS value.