ABSTRACT: Raw turkey breasts were aerobically or vacuum-packaged, irradiated with a linear accelerator, and frozen for 0, 1.5, or 3 mo. Lipid oxidation, volatiles, color values, gas production, and oxidation-reduction potential of the samples were determined. Irradiation produced off-odor volatiles associated with lipid oxidation and sulfur-volatiles; the off-odor was much higher in aerobic packaging. Volatiles increased with irradiation dose, aerobic packaging, and storage time. Irradiation increased stable pink color with both aerobic and vacuum-packaging. Irradiation increased the production of carbon monoxide (CO) and reducing property, indicating that CO-myoglobin could be responsible for the pink color. Lipid oxidation and color changes were not related in irradiated frozen turkey

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) treatment reduced color a*- and b*-values of cooked chicken breast rolls. Sensory panels rated the color of cooked chicken rolls with CLA treatments darker than the control. The production of carbon monoxide (CO) in cooked chicken rolls increased dramatically after irradiation and was correlated with the increased redness of cooked chicken rolls after irradiation. Consumer test indicated that the color of cooked chicken rolls after irradiation was preferred to the nonirradiated, but no preference for the color among the three CLA treatments was found. Irradiation greatly increased volatile production and induced a metallic off-flavor in chicken rolls. Sensory evaluation indicated that the hardness of chicken rolls increased and juiciness decreased as the dietary level of CLA increased

ABSTRACT: Breast rolls with 6 antimicrobial additive treatments—no preservatives (control), 0.1% potassium benzoate (PB), 2% sodium lactate (SL), 0.1% potassium benzoate plus 2% sodium lactate (PB + SL), 2% sodium lactate plus 0.1% sodium diacetate (SL + SDA), and 0.1% potassum benzoate, 2% sodium lactate, and 0.1% sodium diacetate (PB + SL + SDA)—were prepared. Samples were irradiated at 0, 1.0, or 2.0 kGy, and then the quality characteristics of turkey rolls were analyzed. Adding 2% SL increased the hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, chewiness, and resilience of breast rolls. Addition of PB or SDA, and irradiation had no significant effect on texture. Adding 2% SL affected color values. The color a* and b* values of turkey rolls with 2% SL added were significantly lower than those of the control, and this difference was maintained after irradiation and during storage. No difference in color and texture was observed between turkey rolls added with SL and those added with SL + PB + SDA. Breast rolls containing antimicrobials had more lipid oxidation than control. Irradiation and storage slightly enhanced lipid oxidation, although the overall lipid oxidation was very low. Irradiation promoted the formation of dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide. Adding PB in breast rolls greatly increased the formation of benzene during irradiation, whereas other antimicrobial additives had no significant effects on volatiles

Irradiation is an effective technology in eliminating Listeria monocytogenes, but it induces quality changes in meat products at or above specific radiation doses. To minimize irradiation-induced quality changes, only low irradiation doses are recommended. However, low-dose irradiation provides a chance for some pathogens to survive and proliferate during prolonged storage. To solve this problem, antimicrobial ingredients [2% sodium lactate (SL), 0.1% sodium diacetate (SDA), 0.1% potassium benzoate (PB)] and low-dose irradiation were combined and tested for their effects on the growth of L. monocytogenes and meat quality. The log10 reductions of L. monocytogenes in hams following exposure to 1.0 to 2.5 kGy of irradiation ranged from 2.0 to 5.0. The D10 values were 0.52 kGy for control ham or ham with PB, SL, or PB + SL; 0.49 kGy for ham with SL+SDA; and 0.48 kGy for ham with PB + SL + SDA (PSS). Addition of SL + SDA or PB + SL in combination with 1.0 kGy of irradiation was effective in suppressing the growth of L. monocytogenes for about 6 wk when stored at 4 degrees C, whereas 2.0 kGy of irradiation was listeriostatic. Ham irradiated with 1 kGy in combination with PSS was listeriostatic throughout storage. SL increased firmness of turkey hams, and sensory panelists noted that the saltiness was a little higher in products containing SL, but its overall impact on quality was minimal. Amounts of benzene were detected in irradiated hams with PB, showing PB was not fit as an antimicrobial ingredient for irradiated foods. In conclusion, 2% SL and 0.1% SDA in combination with low-dose irradiation were effective in ensuring the safety of ready-to-eat meat products against L. monocytogenes.