title: The effects of atmospheric pressure cold plasma treatment on microbiological, physical-chemical and sensory characteristics of vacuum packaged beef loin.
abstract: Effects on vacuum packaged and non-packaged beef longissimus samples exposed to atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) generated at different powers were studied over a 10day period of vacuum-, and a subsequent 3day period of aerobic storage. Exposure of non-covered beef samples under high power ACP conditions resulted in increased a*, b*, Chroma and Hue values, but ACP treatment of packaged loins did not impact colour (L*, a*, b*, Chroma, Hue), lipid peroxidation, sarcoplasmic protein denaturation, nitrate/nitrite uptake, or myoglobin isoform distribution. Colour values measured after 3days of aerobic storage following unpackaging (i.e. 20days post-mortem) were similar and all compliant with consumer acceptability standards. Exposure to ACP of the polyamide-polyethylene packaging film inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and two Escherichia coli strains resulted in >2 log reduction without affecting the integrity of the packaging matrix. Results indicate that ACP can reduce microbial numbers on surfaces of beef packages without affecting characteristics of the packaged beef.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Meat Hygiene, Meat Technology and Food Science, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Institute of Meat Hygiene, Meat Technology and Food Science, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Meat Hygiene, Meat Technology and Food Science, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surface Engineering and Optoelectronics, Institute 'Jožef Stefan', Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Modic
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Meat Hygiene, Meat Technology and Food Science, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: Frans.smulders@vetmeduni.ac.at.
authors.forename: F J M
authors.initials: FJM
authors.lastname: Smulders
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017849:Animals, Inbred Strains; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D002417:Cattle; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D018857:Food Packaging; D005519:Food Preservation; D063427:Food Quality; D061353:Food Storage; D006801:Humans; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis* / Q000382:microbiology; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012034:Refrigeration; D012677:Sensation; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological; D058626:Plasma Gases
keywords: Beef quality; Cold plasma; Colour stability; Package decontamination