Charles E. Carpenter

Consumer preferences for beef color and packaging did not affect eating satisfaction

We investigated whether consumer preferences for beef colors (red, purple, and brown) or for beef packaging systems (modified atmosphere, MAP; vacuum skin pack, VSP; or overwrap with polyvinyl chloride, PVC) influenced taste scores of beef steaks and patties. To test beef color effects, boneless beef top loin steaks (choice) and ground beef patties (20% fat) were packaged in different atmospheres to promote development of red, purple, and brown color. To test effects of package type, steaks and patties were pre-treated with carbon monoxide in MAP to promote development of red color, and some meat was repackaged using VSP or PVC overwrap. The differently colored and packaged meats were separately displayed for members of four consumer panels who evaluated appearance and indicated their likelihood to purchase similar meat. Next, the panelists tasted meat samples from what they had been told were the packaging treatments just observed. However, the meat samples actually served were from a single untreated steak or patty. Thus, any difference in taste scores should reflect expectations established during the visual evaluation. The same ballot and sample coding were used for both the visual and taste evaluations. Color and packaging influenced (P<0.001) appearance scores and likelihood to purchase. Appearance scores were rated red>purple >brown and PVC >VSP>MAP. Appearance scores and likelihood to purchase were correlated (r=0.9). However, color or packaging did not affect (P>0.5) taste scores. Thus, consumer preferences for beef color and packaging influenced likelihood to purchase, but did not bias eating satisfaction.

Color and thiobarbituric acid values of cooked top sirloin steaks packaged in modified atmospheres of 80% oxygen, or 0.4% carbon monoxide, or vacuum

Case-ready fresh beef is typically packaged in a modified-atmosphere with approximately 80% oxygen and 20% carbon dioxide. Recently, USDA approved distribution of fresh meats in a master bag system using 0.4% carbon monoxide (CO). This study compared effects of packaging system (vacuum, 80% oxygen, 0.4% carbon monoxide), fresh meat storage time (7-21 days) and cooking temperature (49-79 °C) on extent of myoglobin denaturation, color and rancidity in cooked top sirloin steaks. Steaks packaged in 80% oxygen or CO retained desirable red color for 14 and 21 days storage, respectively. Steaks stored in 80% oxygen exhibited the greatest TBA values and myoglobin denaturation at all storage times and cooking temperatures. Steaks stored in high oxygen developed brown interior color at internal temperatures as low as 57 °C, the premature browning effect. Premature browning and rancidity associated with steaks packaged in 80% oxygen was prevented by packaging in 0.4% CO or vacuum.

Evaluation of carbon monoxide treatment in modified atmosphere packaging or vacuum packaging to increase color stability of fresh beef

Our goal was to obtain > 21 days red color stability for carbon monoxide (CO)-treated beef steaks in vacuum packaging (VP). In preliminary tests, pretreatment for 24 h in a 5% CO modified atmosphere package (MAP) was needed to maintain redness after re-packaging in VP. Pressure pretreatment with 5% CO for 2 h developed redness, but was impractical for large-scale application. Color stability and microbial load were then compared after treatment of steaks in 5% CO-MAP for 24 h, then VP; 100% CO-MAP for 1 h, then VP; steaks and ground beef in 0.5% CO-MAP; and steaks and ground beef in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wrap. Steaks remained red for 5, 6, 8 and <1-week storage at 2°C, respectively. Steaks microbial load exceeded spoilage levels (>10(6)cfu/cm(2)) at 5, 6, 7 and <2-weeks, respectively. Thus, extended color stability in VP was achieved by pretreatment with 5% CO for 24 h or 100% CO for 1 h.

Determination of Fat Content

The term “lipid” refers to a group of compounds that are sparingly soluble in water, but show variable solubility in a number of organic solvents (e.g., ethyl ether, petroleum ether, acetone, ethanol, methanol, benzene). The lipid content of a food determined by extraction with one solvent may be quite different from the lipid content as determined with another solvent of different polarity. Fat content is determined often by solvent extraction methods (e.g., Soxhlet, Goldfish, Mojonnier), but it also can be determined by nonsolvent wet extraction methods (e.g., Babcock, Gerber), and by instrumental methods that rely on the physical and chemical properties of lipids (e.g., infrared, density, X-ray absorption). The method of choice depends on a variety of factors, including the nature of the sample (e.g., dry versus moist), the purpose of the analysis (e.g., official nutrition labeling or rapid quality control), and instrumentation available (e.g., Babcock uses simple glassware and equipment; infrared requires an expensive instrument).

External Concentration of Organic Acid Anions and pH : Key Independent Variables for Studying How Organic Acids Inhibit Growth of Bacteria in Mildly Acidic Foods

Although the mechanisms by which organic acids inhibit growth of bacteria in mildly acidic foods are not fully understood, it is clear that intracellular accumulation of anions is a primary contributor to inhibition of bacterial growth. We hypothesize that intracellular accumulation of anions is driven by 2 factors, external anion concentration and external acidity. This hypothesis follows from basic chemistry principles that heretofore have not been fully applied to studies in the field, and it has led us to develop a novel approach for predicting internal anion concentration by controlling the external concentration of anions and pH. This approach overcomes critical flaws in contemporary experimental design that invariably target concentration of either protonated acid or total acid in the growth media thereby leaving anion concentration to vary depending on the pK(a) of the acids involved. Failure to control external concentration of anions has undoubtedly confounded results, and it has likely led to misleading conclusions regarding the antimicrobial action of organic acids. In summary, we advocate an approach for directing internal anion levels by controlling external concentration of anions and pH because it presents an additional opportunity to study the mechanisms by which organic acids inhibit bacterial growth. Knowledge gained from such studies would have important application in the control of important foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, and may also facilitate efforts to promote the survival in foods or beverages of desirable probiotic bacteria.

Efficacy of washing meat surfaces with 2% levulinic, acetic, or lactic acid for pathogen decontamination and residual growth inhibition

We compared spray washing at 55.4 °C with 2% levulinic acid to that with lactic or acetic acid for decontamination of pathogenic bacteria inoculated onto meat surfaces, and their residual protection against later growth of pathogenic bacteria. The model systems included Escherichia coli O157:H7 on beef plate, Salmonella on chicken skin and pork belly, and Listeria monocytogenes on turkey roll. In the decontamination studies, acid washes lowered recoverable numbers of pathogens by 0.6 to 1 log/cm(2) as compared to no-wash controls, and only lactic acid lowered the number of pathogens recovered as compared to the water wash. Washing with levulinic acid at 68.3 or 76.7 °C did not result in additional decontamination of E. coli. Acetic acid prevented residual growth of E. coli and L. monocytogenes, and it reduced numbers of Salmonella on chicken skin to below recoverable levels. Overall, levulinic acid did not provide as effective decontamination as lactic acid nor residual protection as acetic acid.

Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Meats Containing Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Lactate, or a Combination of Sodium Lactate and Sodium Diacetate

This study investigated the use of sodium levulinate to prevent outgrowth of Listeria monocytogenes in refrigerated ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products. Turkey breast roll and bologna were formulated to contain 1%, 2%, or 3% (w/w) sodium levulinate, 2% sodium lactate, a 2% combination of sodium lactate and sodium diacetate (1.875% sodium lactate and 0.125% sodium diacetate), or no antimicrobial (control). Samples of the RTE products were sliced, inoculated with 10(2) to 10(3) CFU/cm(2) of a 5-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes, vacuum packaged, and stored at refrigeration temperature for 0 to 12 wk. Counts reached 10(8) CFU/cm(2) on control turkey roll product after 8 wk, and over 10(7) CFU/cm(2) on control bologna after 12 wk. Addition of 2% or more sodium levulinate to turkey roll and 1% or more sodium levulinate to bologna completely prevented growth of L. monocytogenes during 12 wk of refrigerated storage. A consumer taste panel with pathogen-free samples found no differences in the overall liking among the preparations of turkey roll or among preparations of bologna. These results show that sodium levulinate is at least as effective at inhibiting outgrowth of L. monocytogenes in RTE meat products as the current industry standards of lactate or lactate and diacetate, and levulinate addition does not alter the overall liking of the RTE meat products.

Minimum sodium nitrite levels for pinking of various cooked meats as related to use of direct or indirect-dried soy isolates in poultry rolls

The relationship between sodium nitrite level and pinking was investigated in cooked meats, as measured by panel color score, acetone extraction of NO-hemochrome, and instrumental redness values. Beef was less susceptible than poultry breast meat to nitrite-induced pinking. Minimum sodium nitrite level for pinking was 14, 4, 2, and 1 ppm for beef round, pork shoulder, turkey breast, and chicken breast, respectively. By regression analysis, minimum ppm nitrite for pinking=0.092 (ppm total pigment)+0.53 (R(2)=0.99). High levels of nitrate (>250 ppm as sodium nitrate) and nitrite (>45 ppm as sodium nitrite) were found in direct-dried (DD) soy isolates. Chicken breast rolls formulated with >2% DD soy were pink, but control rolls with 156 ppm sodium nitrate were not pink. Thus, it was concluded that nitrite was the primary pinking agent in DD soy. Indirect-dried (ID) soy isolates contained <11 ppm sodium nitrite, which was insufficient for pinking in poultry rolls.

A mechanistic hypothesis for meat enhancement of nonheme iron absorption: stimulation of gastric secretions and iron chelation.

Abstract A hypothesis is suggested that meat enhances nonheme iron absorption by three mechanisms: a) chelating nonheme iron with its amino acid(s), polypeptide(s), protein(s), or other meat factor(s), b) stimulating secretion of gastrin or other gastric factor(s) for iron chelation, and c) stimulating secretion of gastric acid to solubilize more dietary iron, thereby promoting iron solubility in neutral pH for absorption. These mechanisms are discussed based on our review and analysis of published research. With regards to chelation of nonheme iron, meat contains factors, released independent of proteolytic digestion, that can complex with dietary iron to maintain its solubility. With regards to the role of gastric factors, it has been shown that meat increases the release of gastrin. Gastrin may form high-molecular-weight, iron-III gastrin complexes at neutral pH keeping iron soluble and/or works synergistically with a gastric factor, perhaps gastric transferrin, to enhance nonheme iron absorption. Finally, in regards to the role of gastric acid secretion, reports in the literature have established that meat, fish, poultry, eggs and milk vary both in their potency to stimulate gastric acid secretion and in their enhancement of nonheme iron absorption. Increases in percentage nonheme iron absorption in two independent human studies were highly correlated (r=−0.94 and −0.91) with gastric acid secretion measured as minutes required to reach stomach pH 3.0 in a third human study for five protein sources. By similar analysis, gastric acid secretory responses to four of these protein sources were highly predictable across species (dogs vs. human, r=0.99).

Histology of longissimus muscle from 2-week-old and 8-week-old normal and callipyge lambs

There were no differences in proportion or sizes of myofiber types in longissimus from 2-wk-old lambs of the callipyge and normal genotypes. In 8-wk old lambs, the type I ovine myofibers were oxidative, the majority of type IIA myofibers were glycolytic, and the majority of type IIB myofibers were oxidative. Key words: Callipyge, lamb, muscle, histology