FILM OXYGEN TRANSMISSION RATE EFFECTS ON GROUND CHICKEN MEAT QUALITY

Effects of the packaging film oxygen transmission rate (OTR) on the od or, color, aerobic plate count, and cooked volatile compounds in groun d chicken leg meat were evaluated over a 14-d refrigerated storage (4 C) period. Freshly desinewed and ground chicken leg meat was packaged under minimal vacuum in five films of different OTR. Films ranged from 30 to 12,000 mL oxygen/m(2) per 24 h. Odor scores of meat in packages opened after 10 d were lower for the lowest OTR film than films with higher OTR. Aerobic plate counts increased at a faster rate in the hig her OTR films, and cooked meat volatile profiles showed little variati on due to OTR film type. Specific products will require different pack aging to optimize shelf-life quality. For ground chicken leg meat, an intermediate OTR film is best to maintain a majority of the quality at tributes during refrigerated storage.