Potential application of corn starch edible films with spice essential oils for the shelf life extension of red meat.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of corn starch (CS) edible films with spice oils on the stability of raw beef during refrigerated storage.


RESULTS
The antimicrobial properties of corn starch films containing 0-4·0% (w/v) ratios of clove (CL) and cinnamon (CI) essential oils (EOs) were tested against seven meat spoilage organisms by zone inhibition test. Effects of CS films containing 3% CL or CI or a mixture of CL + CI were also tested in raw beef stored at 4°C. Meat samples were analysed for pH, microbial counts, colour values and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values for a period of 15 days. CS films with CL + CI resulted in a significant reduction in microbial populations in the meat samples and also improved meat colour stability at the end of storage period.


CONCLUSIONS
The incorporation of spice EOs in CS films may provide antimicrobial and antioxidant activities that could improve the stability of raw meat.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study may be applied in meat industries as an additional barrier to control microbial spoilage as well as lipid oxidation in meat products.
Centre for Food Technology, A.C.Tech., Anna University, Chennai, India.|Department of Food Processing Technology, CIT, Assam, India.
K
K
Radha Krishnan
Centre for Food Technology, A.C.Tech., Anna University, Chennai, India.
S
S
Babuskin
Centre for Food Technology, A.C.Tech., Anna University, Chennai, India.
K R
KR
Rakhavan
Centre for Food Technology, A.C.Tech., Anna University, Chennai, India.
R
R
Tharavin
Centre for Food Technology, A.C.Tech., Anna University, Chennai, India.
P
P
Azhagu Saravana Babu
Chemical Engineering Division, Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, India.
M
M
Sivarajan
Centre for Food Technology, A.C.Tech., Anna University, Chennai, India.
M
M
Sukumar
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069466:Red Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D017365:Spices; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003313:Zea mays
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D013213:Starch
antimicrobial; corn starch; edible film; essential oils; raw beef; shelf life