ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of shelf-life enhancers (sodium lactate [SL] or sodium lactate+sodium diacetate [SLDA]) on limiting the growth of Escherichia coli K12 in needle-injecting surface-contaminated beef strip steaks with recycled enhancement solutions. Strip loins were injected to 10% over initial weight. SLDA was most effective in controlling bacterial growth followed by SL alone. The salt/phosphate combination in the enhancement solution was ineffective. SL decreased a(∗) (less red) and b(∗) values (less yellow) of the steaks compared to the salt/phosphate control. SLDA decreased L(∗) values compared to SL alone. SL and SLDA were equally effective in reducing purge loss from the steaks. Steaks enhanced with a "fresh" enhancement solution had higher a(∗) values (more red) and higher E. coli contamination levels than steaks enhanced with recycled solutions. Recycling did not affect L(∗) value, b(∗) value, or purge loss.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of shelf-life enhancers (sodium lactate [SL] or sodium lactate + sodium diacetate [SLDA]) on limiting the growth of Escherichia coli K12 in needle-injecting surface-contaminated beef strip steaks with recycled enhancement solutions. Strip loins were injected to 10% over initial weight. SLDA was most effective in controlling bacterial growth followed by SL alone. The salt/phosphate combination in the enhancement solution was ineffective. SL decreased a(∗) (less red) and b(∗) values (less yellow) of the steaks compared to the salt/phosphate control. SLDA decreased L(∗) values compared to SL alone. SL and SLDA were equally effective in reducing purge loss from the steaks. Steaks enhanced with a "fresh" enhancement solution had higher a(∗) values (more red) and higher E. coli contamination levels than steaks enhanced with recycled solutions. Recycling did not affect L(∗) value, b(∗) value, or purge loss.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of CO-MAP compared to traditional high oxygen MAP (HiOx-MAP) packaging and enhanced with different phosphate on enhanced pork quality. Pork loins were enhanced to 10.5% over initial weight to contain 0.3% salt and 0.4% phosphate (either sodium tripolyphosphate [STP] or a blend of STP and sodium hexametaphosphate) on a finished weight basis. Chops were cut, packaged in atmospheres containing 0.4% CO/30.0% CO(2)/69.6% N(2) (CO-MAP) or 80% O(2)/20% CO(2) (HiOx-MAP), aged in the dark, then placed in a lighted retail display case for 48h. Chops packaged in CO-MAP were redder (higher Minolta a(∗) values) and darker (lower Minolta b(∗) values) than chops packaged in HiOx-MAP. Based on sensory scores, the CO-MAP chops were pinker than the HiOx chops after cooking. CO-MAP chops also experienced less purge loss than chops in HiOx-MAP. Results indicate that CO-MAP had no effect on flavor or consumer acceptability and only minimal effects on other characteristics.
