Impact of Multiple Antimicrobial Interventions on Ground Beef Quality

Abstract

Multiple antimicrobial intervention strategies are employed in beef manufacturing, and some may impact quality and palatability of ground beef patties. Combinations of antimicrobial treatments – hot water (at least 82 °C), lactic acid (4.0 to 5.0%), acidified sodium chlorite (pH of 2.7 to 2.8) and Beefxide (lactic/citric acid mixture; up to 2.5%) – were applied to hot or chilled carcasses and trimmings before manufacturing ground beef patties, which were designated for color evaluation, consumer panel, or trained panel evaluation. Few significant changes were seen in color space values for each treatment combination. Consumer scores for overall liking, flavor liking, and beefy flavor liking were impacted (P < 0.05) by combined antimicrobial treatment effects. Trained panelists detected 18 out of 33 attributes with only scores for fat-like (P = 0.0391) and cardboardy (P < 0.0001) being impacted by treatments. No clear trends were related to any single or combined antimicrobial treatment, and findings support that these food safety interventions have minimal negative impacts on beef patty quality.