Stability of lamb loin stored under refrigeration and packed in different modified atmosphere packaging systems.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems (vacuum, 75% O2+25% CO2 and 100% CO2) on the stability of lamb loins stored at 1±1°C for 28 days. Microbiological (counts of aerobic and anaerobic psychrotrophic microorganisms, coliform at 45°C, coagulase-positive staphylococci and lactic acid bacteria and presence of Salmonella), physical and chemical (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], objective color, pH, water loss from cooking [WLC] and shear force), sensory (acceptance testing using a 9-point hedonic scale) and gas composition analyses were performed. Lamb meat remained stable with respect to the majority of the evaluated physical and chemical indexes and within the standards established by Brazilian legislation for pathogenic microorganisms throughout the storage period in all three packaging systems. However, with respect to psychrotrophic microorganisms, 100% CO2 packaging system provided increased stability despite presenting lower appearance preference.

Estabilidade físico-química, microbiológica e sensorial de carne ovina embalada a vácuo estocada sob refrigeração / Physical and chemical stability microbiological and sensory analysis of vacuum packed sheep meat stored under refrigeration

A carne ovina é comercializada atualmente em sua quase totalidade na forma congelada, porém com a tendência atual de maior procura por produtos de conveniência, vislumbra-se a necessidade de o mercado começar a ofertar esta carne na forma de cortes refrigerados. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a estabilidade e segurança de lombo de cordeiro embalado a vácuo quando estocado sob refrigeração. A estabilidade foi avaliada por meio de análises físicas e químicas (oxidação lipídica, cor objetiva, valor de pH, composição centesimal, perda de água por cocção e textura instrumental), microbiológicas (contagem total de psicrotróficos anaeróbios, coliformes termotolerantes a 45°C, estafilococos coagulase positiva e presença de Salmonella) e sensorial (cor, aparência geral e aroma). A carne ovina apresentou-se estável durante o período de 28 dias com relação à maioria dos índices físicos e químicos avaliados e dentro dos padrões estabelecidos pela legislação brasileira para micro-organismos patogênicos. Durante o armazenamento, detectou-se um aumento elevado das contagens de micro-organismos psicrotróficos anaeróbios, atingindo valores da ordem de 10(7)UFC g-1 amostra já aos 14 dias, porém os consumidores não detectaram alterações sensoriais significativas durante todo o período. Conclui-se que a vida útil de lombo ovino armazenado a 4°C é de no mínimo 28 dias.

Lamb is commercialized today almost entirely in frozen form, but, considering the current trend to greater demand for convenience products, it becomes more evident the need of availability of chilled cuts of meat in the market. The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability and safety of lamb meat packed under vacuum when stored under refrigeration. The lamb meat samples were packed in high barrier multilayer plastic films and stored under refrigeration (4±1°C). The stability was evaluated by means of physical and chemical analysis (lipid oxidation, objective color, pH value, chemical composition, cooking losses and instrumental texture), microbiological analysis (total count of psychrotrophic anaerobic, coliform count at 45°C, coagulase-positive staphylococci and the presence of Salmonella) and sensory analysis (color, flavor and overall appearance). The vacuum packed lamb meat remained stable as to most physical and chemical indexes and microbiological indexes showed good stability throughout the 28 days of storage according to Brazilian legislation standards to pathogenic microorganisms. In relation to the stability evaluation of chilled sheep loin, it was detected a high increase of counts for psychrotrophic anaerobic microorganisms, reaching around 10(7)CFU g-1 sample at 14 days storage, but the pannelists did not detect significant sensory changes during all the period. It is concluded that the shelf life of sheep loin stored at 4°C, is at least, 28 days.

Determination of volatile organic compounds in recycled polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene by headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry to evaluate the efficiency of recycling processes.

A method for the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in recycled polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene using headspace sampling by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection is presented. This method was used to evaluate the efficiency of cleaning processes for VOC removal from recycled PET. In addition, the method was also employed to evaluate the level of VOC contamination in multilayer packaging material containing recycled HDPE material. The optimisation of the extraction procedure for volatile compounds was performed and the best extraction conditions were found using a 75 µm carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane (CAR-PDMS) fibre for 20 min at 60 °C. The validation parameters for the established method were linear range, linearity, sensitivity, precision (repeatability), accuracy (recovery) and detection and quantification limits. The results indicated that the method could easily be used in quality control for the production of recycled PET and HDPE.