Stabilization of minced meat colour by carbon monoxide

Abstract

The effect of carbon monoxide was studied on the colour stabilisation of minced meat and on oxidation of lipids. The meat colour was evaluated using reflectance spectrophotometry and video image analysis (software LUCIA 5.20). Minced meat (beef and mixture of beef and pork) was packed under industrial conditions into three different modified atmospheres (MA) consisting of combinations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen. Carbon monoxide prevented the oxidation of lipids and haem pigments in minced meat and thus stabilised the red colour of minced meat. The redness a* of the meat packed under CO was constant during storage (nearly a* = 20), whereas in MA containing oxygen this value decreased (a* = 5). The thiobarbituric acid reactant substances content rose in the samples packed under MA to 2 mg/kg, whereas in CO atmosphere it did not exceed 0.1 mg/kg.