title: Exclusion of oxygen from modified atmosphere packages limits beef rib and lumbar vertebrae marrow discoloration during display and storage.
abstract: Visual and instrumental color (L*a*b* and reflectance from 400 to 700 nm) were used to evaluate packaging atmosphere as a way of minimizing beef marrow discoloration. In experiment 1, rib ends (n=24) packaged in 80% O(2)/20% CO(2) discolored more than ribs packaged in 100% N(2), which resulted in a relatively stable purplish marrow color through a 7-day display at 1 °C. In experiment 2, lumbar vertebrae (n=10) packaged in 80% O(2)/20% CO(2) had a rapid and significant discoloration within 24 h after packaging, likely because of the formation of methemoglobin. Conversely, vertebrae packaged in 80% N(2)/20% CO(2) and 0.4% CO/30% CO(2)/69.6% N(2) remained color stable during 2 and 6 weeks of storage at 4 °C, respectively. Exclusion of oxygen from MAP packages and the addition of low concentrations of CO minimized beef rib and lumbar vertebrae discoloration compared with high-oxygen MAP.
authors: Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, 224 Weber Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-0201, USA.
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Mancini
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Hunt
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Hachmeister
authors: D H
authors: DH
authors: Kropf
authors: D E
authors: DE
authors: Johnson