OXIDATIVE CHANGES OF HEAT-STERILIZED MEAT IN TRAYS

We studied oxidative changes of ground pork meat filled into plastic or aluminum trays, sterilized at 121 or 131 degrees C and stored up to 56 days at 20 or 37 degrees C in the dark or exposed to light, respectively. Sterilization temperature did not influence either thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of the samples or ethane concentrations in headspace of trays. An increase of storage temperature from 20 to 37 degrees C increased TBARS and ethane concentrations regardless of filling method and packaging material. No changes in double-bond indices were observed. Nitrogen flushing in combination with light protection reduced lipid oxidation up to 85-95%.