Relationship between the concentration of biogenic amines and volatile basic nitrogen in fresh beef, pork, and chicken meat

Abstract

Changes in the concentrations of biogenic amines (BAs) in fresh beef, pork, and chicken breast and leg were investigated during storage, and the relationship between the content of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) and BAs was evaluated. As the storage period increased, the levels of putrescine (PUT), cadaverine (CAD) and tyramine (TYM) increased in all the meat samples, except for TYM in beef (p<0.001). The level of BAs in beef, pork and chicken changed but the extent of these changes was different among the kinds of BAs and meats. Measurement of the VBN content was confirmed as a good index for interpreting the specific BAs content in general, such as PUT, CAD, and TYM, as well as evaluating a meat's freshness during storage. However, the kinds of BAs which can be predicted from the VBN content varied in different meats (p<0.05).