Effects of selected chemicals on microbial stability of turkey meat

Abstract

The influence of dipping turkey breast meat in lactic acid (LA), fumaric acid (FA), lactic acid plus fumaric acid (LA + FA), trisodiurn phosphate (TSP) and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) solutions on aerobic mesophilic, psychrotrophic bacteria and yeast counts were assessed. 1-1.5% LA, 0.5% FA and 1% LA + 0.5% FA showed immediate inhibitory effects on aerobic mesophilic bacteria (0.3-0.6, 0.4 and 1.8 log unit reductions, respectively). 0.5% FA reduced psychrotrophic bacteria and yeast counts on fresh turkey breast fillets immediately by 1.1 and 0.4 log units, respectively. 5% TSP reduced aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria by 0.4 and 0.5 log units, respectively on breast fillets. 5% STPP reduced the yeast count on breast fillets immediately by 0.7 log unit. 1% LA, 0.5% FA and 1% LA + 0.5% FA reduced the psychrotrophic bacteria counts by 0.48, 0.23 and 1.27 log units after 8 days of storage, respectively in comparison to the untreated control samples. 1% LA + 0.5% FA treated fillets had a detectable discoloration and acid odour although there was no microbial spoilage at 14 days of storage. Dipping fillets in both 1% LA and 0.5% FA extended the storage life up to 4 days, without adversely affecting the colour.