SODIUM LACTATE EFFECTS ON THE STABILITY OF FRESH AND CURED PORK LONGISSIMUS

Boneless pork loins sliced into 1.9 cm fresh chops were dipped to retain 0, 1.5 or 3% sodium lactate (SL) and packaged in polyvinylchloride (PVC) or vacuum-packaged (VP), Color of fresh chops was monitored visually and objectively. Boneless pork loins were cured by injection with 0, 1.5 or 3% SL, or were dipped after slicing to retain 0, 1.5 or 3% SL. Cure for the dipped loins contained no SL. Color and aerobic plate count (APC) of vacuum-packaged chops were evaluated over 70 days of retail storage (4C). Visual color was darker (P < 0.05) and L* values were lower (P < 0.05) for 3% SL-dipped fresh chops. Fresh chops containing 1.5 and 3% SL had higher a* values than controls. Surface discoloration of 3% SL fresh chops was lower (P < 0.05) than control chops. Cured injected chops (3% SL) had lower (P < 0.05) L* values than dipped chops or injected controls. L*, a* and b* values of cured dipped chops (3% SL) were not different (P > 0.05) from controls. No consistent trends were found in APC of cured chops. Injection of SL prior to cooking darkened the color of cured pork loin chops.