title: Effect of high-dose irradiation on quality characteristics of ready-to-eat broiler breast fillets stored at room temperature.
abstract: The effect of high-dose irradiation on the physical, chemical, and bacteriological parameters of ready-to-eat vacuum-packed broiler breast meat after 430 d of storage at room temperature was investigated. Ready-to-eat broiler breast fillets were immersed in brine with garlic powder and then drained, grilled, and vacuum-packed (primary packaging). The high-dose irradiation used was approximately 48 kGy. The treatments were designated as A (irradiated samples stored at room temperature), B (irradiated samples stored at -25°C), and C (nonirradiated samples stored at -25°C). All samples were packaged in polyethylene bags containing aluminum to exclude light (secondary packaging). Proximate composition, pH, 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), and heterotrophic aerobic mesophilic bacteria were analyzed during 430 d of storage. Results were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA and the Tukey test. Linear regression was used to analyze the correlation between the results for each parameter and storage time of the different treatments. The gamma radiation caused slight changes (P < 0.05) in the moisture and fat content, regardless of storage temperature. After storage d 110, TBARS values remained stable (P > 0.05) in all the treatments. The preservation methods used were effective in maintaining the mesophilic counts below the detection level during the entire storage period. We concluded that, among the treatments studied, high-dose irradiation with storage at room temperature showed potential for the preservation of ready-to-eat products made from poultry meat, to provide foods safe for consumption.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physicochemical Monitoring, Department of Food Technology, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil, 24230-340 ramifanticelli@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physicochemical Monitoring, Department of Food Technology, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil, 24230-340.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physicochemical Monitoring, Department of Food Technology, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil, 24230-340.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physicochemical Monitoring, Department of Food Technology, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil, 24230-340.
authors.forename: M L G
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Defense Section, Army Technological Center (CTEx), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 23020-470.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Vital
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physicochemical Monitoring, Department of Food Technology, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil, 24230-340.
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Mársico
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physicochemical Monitoring, Department of Food Technology, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil, 24230-340.
authors.forename: C A Conte
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Júnior
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physicochemical Monitoring, Department of Food Technology, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil, 24230-340.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Mano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D005514:Food Irradiation; D018857:Food Packaging; D005519:Food Preservation; D063427:Food Quality; D061353:Food Storage; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: chicken meat; gamma radiation; storage; vacuum packaging