Color Stability Of Beef Research Articles

2013 EARLY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD— Proteomics of muscle- and species-specificity in meat color stability12

Meat color is the most important quality trait influencing consumer purchase decisions. The interinfluential interactions between myoglobin and biomolecules govern color stability in meat. The advances in proteomics, such as high throughput analytical tools in mass spectrometry, 2-dimensional electrophoresis, and bioinformatics, offer themselves as robust techniques to characterize the proteome basis of muscle- and species-specific meat color phenomena. Differential abundance of chaperones and antioxidant proteins contributes to muscle-specific color stability in beef; the greater abundance of chaperones and antioxidant proteins in color-stable Longissimus lumborum than in color-labile Psoas major protects myoglobin and contributes to superior color stability of beef Longissimus steaks. Lipid oxidation-induced myoglobin oxidation is more critical to beef color than pork color due to the inherent differences in myoglobin chemistry; the number of nucleophilic histidine residues adducted by reactive aldehydes is greater in beef myoglobin than in pork myoglobin. Preferential adduction of secondary products of lipid oxidation to beef myoglobin accelerates metmyoglobin formation at a greater degree than in its pork counterpart. Mass spectrometric investigations revealed that although cherry-red carboxymyoglobin is more stable than oxymyoglobin, both redox forms undergo lipid oxidation-induced oxidation in model systems. The accuracy of mass spectrometry to detect the molecular mass of proteins has been applied to differentiate myoglobins from closely related meat animals, such as goats and sheep or emu and ostrich. In addition, this approach indicated that turkey myoglobin is 350 Da greater in molecular mass than beef myoglobin, and the unique biochemistry of turkey myoglobin could be responsible for its greater thermostability in model systems as well as the pink color defect observed in fully cooked uncured turkey products.

Effects of bicarbonates on color stability and functional properties of ground beef

Effects of bicarbonates on color stability and functional properties of ground beef

Effect of aging time in vacuum on tenderness, and color and lipid stability of beef from mature cows during display in high oxygen atmosphere package

The effect of aging time in vacuum on tenderness, and lipid and color stability of modified-atmosphere packaged (MAP) beef during display was evaluated in eight Friesian mature cows. Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) sections were vacuum packaged and aged for 0, 3, 6, 8, 14 and 21days. After each aging time, the LTL sections were cut into steaks and packaged in high oxygen atmosphere (80% O2: 20% CO2). Meat shear force, and color and lipid stability were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, and 9days of simulated retail display. Aging for 6 or 8days improved beef tenderness with color stability, instrumental discoloration (R630–R580) and visual color evaluation in MAP similar to those of short-time aged (3d) or un-aged (0d) beef. Longer aging times (14 and 21d) resulted in tenderness values similar to those obtained with meat aged for 8days but affected negatively color and lipid stability and, consequently, reduced the shelf life of beef in MAP.

Nitrite-embedded packaging film effects on fresh and frozen beef color development and stability as influenced by meat age and muscle type

Muscles (Longissimus lumborum, LL; Psoas major, PM, semitendinosus, ST) were aged (2, 9d postmortem), cut into steaks, anaerobically packaged (nitrite-embedded film, NEF), and displayed (fresh, 19d; frozen, 39d). Fresh NEF increased (P<0.05) in redness (first 48h). Upon opening fresh NEF (d 6) and overwrapping in PVC film, redness declined (P<0.05). NEF cooked LL had more red surface compared to non-NEF. Meat age influenced NEF color. Intact NEF maintained acceptable red color throughout display. Residual nitrite and nitrate associated with fresh NEF and nitrate in NEF cooked LL were found (P<0.05) in the outer layer. Consideration should be given to providing sufficient time for nitric oxide myoglobin development when using NEF which may be influenced by meat age and muscle differences. NEF packaging has potential to extend fresh beef color display life. NEF appears to offer the opportunity to display bright red beef in frozen display by limiting typical effects of photooxidation.

The Application of a Compound Natural Preservative Solution to Chilled Beef and Mutton Under Vacuum Packaging During Refrigerated Storage

A compound natural preservative (CNP) was produced by mixing clove cinnamon extracts with tea polyphenol, chitosan, propolis, nisin and lysozyme. Its effects on microbiological [total aerobic counts (TACs)], chemical [total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), 2-thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS), total reducing activity (TRA) and pH values], and colorimetric characteristics of chilled beef and mutton that were kept under vacuum packaging during refrigerated storage at 4 ± 1°C were investigated for 4 weeks. Results indicated that the CNP significantly inhibited the growth of microbes, improved TRA values, and decreased TBARS and TVB-N values to some extent especially at the later storage time, but had no obvious advantage in maintaining the color stability of beef and mutton when compared to lactic acid (LA, positive control) and sterile distilled water (DW, negative control). The shelf-lives of chilled beef and mutton were observed to be 3 − 4 weeks for the CNP treatment. The susceptibility of meat species to lipid oxidation was greater in beef than mutton, but spoilage as a consequence of bacteria load was greater in mutton than beef.

Effects of Pyruvate on Lipid Oxidation and Ground Beef Color

Our overall objective was to better understand the effects of added pyruvate on enhanced beef color stability. The 2 possible mechanisms assessed were the role of pyruvate in lipid oxidation and direct interaction between pyruvate and beef myoglobin. Microsomes were incubated with pyruvate at pH 5.6, 25 °C, and lipid oxidation was measured hourly for 3 h. Bovine oxymyoglobin at pH 5.6 was incubated with pyruvate and used to quantify both redox stability (metmyoglobin formation) and pyruvate-myoglobin adduction using mass spectrometry analysis. Surface color and lipid oxidation were measured on ground beef patties stored for 6 d in polyvinyl chloride over-wrap (PVC) or high oxygen. Addition of pyruvate to microsomes decreased lipid oxidation compared with controls (P < 0.05). Conversely, no effect on myoglobin was observed (no changes in redox stability and no peaks corresponding to pyruvate were observed; P > 0.05). However, pyruvate increased color stability and decreased lipid oxidation of ground beef patties packaged in PVC and high oxygen. Pyruvate decreased nitric oxide metmyoglobin-reducing capacity and oxygen consumption of patties compared with controls (P < 0.05). This research suggests that pyruvate may improve beef color stability primarily through its antioxidant effect on lipids. Discoloration of meat often results in significant revenue loss. This study suggests that pyruvate can improve the color stability of patties packaged in high oxygen and PVC primarily through its antioxidant effect on lipids.

Influence of vacuum skin packaging on color stability of beef longissimus lumborum compared with vacuum and high-oxygen modified atmosphere packaging

The objective of this study was to investigate how color stability of beef is affected by vacuum skin packaging (VSP) compared with vacuum packaging (VP) and high-oxygen modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; 80% O2 and 20% CO2). Longissimus lumborum muscles were aged in vacuum for 7days and then cut into 2-cm-thick slices and repacked using VSP, VP and MAP for another 7days. Color stability was measured during the next 5days in air and samples for α-tocopherol and NADH analyses were obtained at the beginning and end of aerobic storage. Color stability, α-tocopherol and NADH of steaks were affected by packaging methods and storage time in air (P<0.05). Higher a* value was obtained in VSP on day 5 compared with VP. Steaks packed in VSP had better color stability than in VP and their color was similar to MAP at the end (day 5) of storage.

Elucidation of Antioxidant Activity of Phosvitin Extracted from Egg Yolk using Ground Meat

Abastract Phosvitin was extracted from a chicken egg yolk and the iron-binding, along with antioxidative activity of the extracted phosvitin, was determined after mixing with ground beef at the concentrations of 100 and 500 mg/kg of meat. The electrophoretic pattern of the extracted phosvitin on SDS-PAGE was found to be identical to that of the standard phosvitin. The extracted phosvitin at 1,000 µg/mL showed an ability to bind approximately 65% of the iron in a 3 mM iron solution. Lipid oxidation was inhibited in the ground beef mixed with 500 mg/kg of the extracted phosvitin, during storage at 4 o C compared to that of the control (p<0.05). Additionally, color stability of ground beef containing the extracted phosvitin was enhanced (p<0.05). The pH, cooking loss, texture, and sensory properties of the ground beef were not affected, by adding up to 500 mg/kg of the extracted phosvitin. This result suggests that the phosvitin extracted from egg yolk could be used as an antioxidant reagent. In particular, phosvitin would be more amenable for use in meat products because it is a natural protein derived from animal products.

Proteomics of Muscle-Specific Beef Color Stability

The objective of the present study was to differentiate the sarcoplasmic proteome of color-stable (Longissimus lumborum; LL) and color-labile (Psoas major; PM) beef muscles. LL and PM muscles from seven beef carcasses (24 h post-mortem) were fabricated into 2.54 cm steaks, aerobically packaged, and assigned to refrigerated retail display for 9 days. LL steaks demonstrated greater (P < 0.05) color stability and lower (P < 0.05) lipid oxidation than PM steaks. Proteome analyses identified 16 differentially abundant proteins in LL and PM, including antioxidant proteins and chaperones. Proteins demonstrating positive correlation with redness (aldose reductase, creatine kinase, and β-enolase) and color stability (peroxiredoxin-2, peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase, and heat shock protein-27 kDa) were overabundant in LL, whereas the protein overabundant in PM (mitochondrial aconitase) exhibited negative correlation with redness. The color stability of LL could be attributed to the overabundance of antioxidant proteins and chaperones, and this finding suggests the necessity of developing muscle-specific processing strategies to improve beef color.

Noni puree (Morinda citrifolia) mixed in beef patties enhanced color stability

Ground beef, mixed with 0, 2, 4, and 6% Noni puree, was formed into 150-g patties, aerobically packaged, and displayed in retail for 5d. After 2 and 3d, patties with higher concentrations of Noni were perceived as redder and less discolored (P<0.05) by visual panelists. Noni patties were found to have greater (P<0.05) a* values than controls, even though all patties became less red during display. After 3 and 5d of retail display, patties with higher concentrations of Noni puree also had lower TBARS (were less oxidized; P<0.05). In fresh taste panels, panelists perceived the patties to have less beef flavor and greater incidence of off-flavors (P<0.05) as Noni puree concentration increased. The potential of Noni puree to improve the color stability and shelf life of fresh ground beef is very promising, but the flavors produced by the addition of Noni in ground beef may be detrimental to its use.

Reducing lipid peroxidation for improving colour stability of beef and lamb: on‐farm considerations

Meat colour and lipid stability are important sensory properties. Myoglobin oxidation is correlated with lipid oxidation, and one can exacerbate the occurrence of the other. Approaches to reduce both oxidative processes could focus on minimising oxidising agents in meat. In on-farm practices, dietary supplementation of antioxidants is a useful approach for improving lipid stability and then meat colour stability, and further improvement could be a combination of using hydrophobic and hydrophilic antioxidants. Genetic variations in the endogenous antioxidant systems could be identified for the development of a breeding strategy to bring a long-term benefit to the meat industry. To have a better understanding of oxidative stress and oxidation of long chain unsaturated fatty acids in live animals, the isoprostanes could be measured as an effective marker in vivo.

Effects of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal on beef heart mitochondrial ultrastructure, oxygen consumption, and metmyoglobin reduction

The effects of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) on mitochondria isolated from bovine hearts (n=5) were assessed using ultrastructure, oxygen consumption, membrane permeability, HNE binding, and metmyoglobin reduction in vitro. Pre-incubation (pH 5.6 and 7.4 at 25°C) of mitochondria with HNE decreased oxygen consumption compared with samples without HNE (P<0.05). Electron microscopy revealed that HNE-treated mitochondria were swollen and had increased membrane permeability at pH 7.4, compared with ethanol controls. Conversely, mitochondria incubated with HNE at pH 5.6 had decreased volume and permeability. Fluorescence studies indicate that HNE binds to the membrane of mitochondria isolated from bovine cardiac muscle (at pH 5.6 and 7.4). HNE-treated mitochondria at both pH 5.6 and 7.4 had lower metmyoglobin reduction and NADH dependent metmyoglobin reductase activity compared with control mitochondria without HNE (P<0.05). In addition to covalent binding with myoglobin, HNE may influence beef color stability by interacting with mitochondria.

Long Chain n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Concentration and Color and Lipid Stability of Muscle from Heifers Offered a Ruminally Protected Fish Oil Supplement

Beef heifers (n = 48) were offered, daily, a 1.5 kg ration that contained 0, 69, 138, and 275 g of ruminally protected fish oil (RPFO) fortified with vitamin E (5000 IU/kg). The fatty acid profile of neutral (NL) and polar lipids (PL) of neck muscle was analyzed by GC-FID. Minced muscle was displayed in an 80% O(2):20% CO(2) atmosphere under simulated retail display conditions. Muscle α-tocopherol concentrations did not differ. For PL, the proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increased (P < 0.05, linearly and quadratically, respectively). For NL, the proportion of EPA was not affected but DHA increased linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05). Supplementation did not affect color stability of ground beef, but lipid oxidation was higher (P < 0.001) for 275 g of RPFO on day 10 of display. In conclusion, supplementation with RPFO increased muscle EPA and DHA with no effect on color stability while lipid oxidation was increased only at the highest level of supplementation, after prolonged display.

Dietary vitamin E and lipid and color stability of beef and pork: Modeling of relationships1

Dietary vitamin E supplementation provides a feasible option to extend the shelf life of meat. However, the costs of extra supplementation necessitate an accurate level of feeding to achieve the maximum return in product quality improvement. The current study aimed to quantify the effects of total dietary vitamin E intake on muscle α-tocopherol concentration in cattle and pigs, and to relate muscle α-tocopherol concentration to lipid oxidation and color of meat. Through computerized and manual searches, 13 studies with cattle and 10 with pigs were identified that have presented data on dietary vitamin E intake and muscle α-tocopherol concentration. Treatment means from 12 studies with beef and 14 with pork were used to evaluate the effects of muscle α-tocopherol concentration on lipid oxidation, as represented by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in meat stored or retail displayed at chilled temperatures. With CIELAB a* (redness) values as an indicator of color development, the association between muscle α-tocopherol concentration and color could be evaluated with treatment means from 8 studies with beef and 5 with pork. Different treatments applied within studies resulted in 20 to 66 values available for the respective regression analyses. Relationships could be described effectively by different forms of the Mitscherlich model, which presented an initial value for y when x = 0, an asymptotic plateau, and the rate of change of y with increasing values of x. With the inclusion of experiment as a random effect, the relationship between total dietary vitamin E intake (x, IU/d for cattle and mg/d for pigs) and muscle α-tocopherol concentration (y, µg/g of meat) reached asymptotic plateau values at 5.71 and 4.83 µg/g of meat for cattle and pigs, respectively. The fractional accumulation rate (per total dietary vitamin E intake) of muscle α-tocopherol concentration was considerably greater in pigs (0.0130) than in cattle (0.00174). The form of the relationship between muscle α-tocopherol concentration and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in pork was influenced by a single value, whereas muscle α-tocopherol concentrations could not be related to a* values in beef. This study presented viable models that could be applied in practice to calculate the amounts of supplemental dietary vitamin E needed to obtain the maximum profit from beef and pork.

Combined Effects of Modified Atmosphere Packaging and Organic Acid Salts (Sodium Acetate and Calcium Lactate) on the Quality and Shelf-life of Hanwoo Ground Beef Patties

The present study investigated the combined effects of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and organic acid salts on the quality and shelf-life of Hanwoo ground beef patties. The ground beef containing 500 ppm of ascorbic acid was prepared with air-packaging (Air-P), high oxygen-MAP (70% O + 30% CO /OxyMAP), and nitrogen-MAP (100% N /NitroMAP), in combination with organic acid salts (1500 ppm of sodium acetate and 500 ppm of calcium lactate). The samples were stored for 11 d at 5 C. The pH value of ground beef patties decreased during storage in all the treatments. The ground beef patties with organic acid salts showed relatively higher level of pH during storage compared with non-added patties (p<0.05). Lipid oxidation was accelerated in OxyMAP while it was delayed in NitroMAP treated with organic acid salts. Nitro-MAP treated with organic acid salts was effective in stabilizing the color characteristics of lightness (CIE L*) and redness (CIE a*) during storage. Oxygen content in MAP was shown to be a more important factor affecting color stability and lipid oxidation of ground beef than organic acid salts. The aerobic and anaerobic bacterial counts were reduced both in OxyMAP and NitroMAP (p<0.05), and the lactic acid bacteria was inhibited by Oxy-MAP (p<0.05). Coliform bacteria decreased during storage as pH value was decreased in all treatments. According to the sensory evaluation, the ground beef patties in NitroMAP showed the best quality among all treatments during storage. Therefore, Hanwoo ground beef patties added with sodium acetate and calcium lactate and packed with NitroMAP showed better quality characteristics than other treatments. This packaging method is recommended and could be utilized for packaging hanwoo ground beef patties for improving quality and extending shelf-life.

Packaging-specific influence of chitosan on color stability and lipid oxidation in refrigerated ground beef

We examined the influence of chitosan on lipid oxidation and color stability of ground beef stored in different modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems. Ground beef patties with chitosan (1%) or without chitosan (control) were packaged either in high-oxygen MAP (HIOX; 80% O(2)+20% CO(2)), carbon monoxide MAP (CO; 0.4% CO+19.6% CO(2)+80% N(2)), vacuum (VP), or aerobic packaging (PVC) and stored at 1 °C. Chitosan increased (P<0.05) redness of patties stored in PVC and CO, whereas it had no effect (P>0.05) in HIOX. Chitosan patties demonstrated lower (P<0.05) lipid oxidation than controls in all packaging. Control patties in PVC and HIOX exhibited greater (P<0.05) lipid oxidation than those in VP and CO, whereas chitosan patties in different packaging systems were not different (P>0.05) from each other. Our findings suggested that antioxidant effects of chitosan on ground beef are packaging-specific.

Color stability of ground beef packaged in a low carbon monoxide atmosphere or vacuum

Ground beef was either packaged in an atmosphere of 0.4% CO, 30% CO₂, and 69.6% N₂ (CO-MAP) or vacuum. After storage (48 h, 2-3°C), packages of CO-MAP and vacuum were opened and overwrapped with polyvinyl chloride. Other CO-MAP and vacuum packages were left intact. Packages were initially displayed for 7 days (2-3°C). Intact packages were further displayed up to 35 days before being opened and displayed (1 or 3 days). Intact CO-MAP packaged ground beef was always more red than intact vacuum-packaged ground beef. Color was relatively stable for both types of intact packages over 35 days of display. Upon opening CO-MAP packaged ground beef, the red color decreased slower than in ground beef from vacuum packages.

Value-added use of mushroom ergothioneine as a colour stabilizer in processed fish meats

Ergothioneine (ESH), a potent antioxidant, has been found in certain edible mushrooms. Our previous research showed that ESH extracted from the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes has a positive effect on the colour stability of beef and tuna meat. The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy and applicability of ESH extracts prepared from different mushroom species as a colour stabilizer in fish meats. Levels of ESH higher than 2.8 mg mL(-1) were found in extracts prepared from the fruiting bodies of F. velutipes, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus cornucopiae and Pleurotus eryngii and the processing waste of F. velutipes. When 1 mL of each of the extracts was added to 100 g of minced bigeye tuna and yellowtail meats, the bright-red colour remained after 5 and 2 days, respectively, of ice storage. The anti-discoloration efficacy of 1 mL of the extracts prepared from 10 g of the fresh waste portion of F. velutipes was similar to that of its fruiting body or 0.5 g kg(-1) of sodium ascorbate when added to 100 g of minced bigeye tuna meat under ice storage. The results of this study clearly showed that ESH prepared from different mushroom species stabilized the colour of fish meats, and the extract from the F. velutipes was the most effective.

Comparison of spice-derived antioxidants and metal chelators on fresh beef color stability

Effects of Type I antioxidants eugenol and rosmarinic acid were compared to those of Type II antioxidants milk mineral (MM), sodium tripolyphosphpate (STPP), and phytate in raw ground beef held for 14 days at 4 degrees C in oxygen-permeable polyvinylchloride. Meat color stability was measured as % oxymyoglobin, Hunter a * value, chroma, and hue angle. Significant correlations (P<0.0001) were observed between all color measurement methods. By day 14, STPP-treated patties lost more red color (P<0.05 for a* and hue angle) and had higher thiobarbituric acid values than other treatments. By day 14, MM was as effective as eugenol and rosmarinate at preventing oxymyoglobin oxidation (72, 76, and 71% retained, respectively) and red color loss as measured by a * (9.2, 9.4, and 10.9), hue angle (58.4, 56.2, and 53.5), and chroma (17, 17, and 18), but was unable to inhibit microbial growth as effectively as the spice-derived antioxidants.

Contributions of Muscles of Various Color Stabilities to the Overall Color Stability of Ground Beef

Ground high (HCS), intermediate (ICS), and low color stability (LCS) cow muscles were used to investigate effects of blending muscles of different color stabilities on ground beef display color. Six formulations at 90% and 80% lean points combining HCS, ICS, and LCS muscles were: 50% HCS + 50% ICS; 50% HCS + 50% LCS; 50% ICS + 50% LCS; 33.3% HCS + 33.3% ICS + 33.3% LCS; 75% HCS + 25% LCS; and 25% HCS + 75% LCS. Patties were packaged in a high oxygen (80% O(2), 20% CO(2)) modified atmosphere, held in dark storage for 5 d, then displayed for 4 d. The 80% lean patties containing >or= 50% HCS had the brightest red initial visual color. During display 75% HCS + 25% LCS at both lean points had the most cherry-red display color. Patties containing a greater proportion of HCS had greater metmyoglobin reducing ability throughout display. HCS, ICS, and LCS muscle can be mixed without adverse color affects, provided LCS muscle is <or= 25%, and HCS muscle is >or= 50% of the blend.