Hydrogen sulfide production by bacteria and sulfmyoglobin formation in prepacked chilled beef

Review of the Greening Reaction by Thermal Treatment: New Insights Exploring the Structural Implications of Myoglobin

Myoglobin is the main factor responsible for muscle pigmentation in tuna; muscle color depends upon changes in the oxidative state of myoglobin. The tuna industry has reported muscle greening after thermal treatment involving metmyoglobin (MetMb), trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), and free cysteine (Cys). It has been proposed that this pigmentation change is due to a disulfide bond between a unique cysteine residue (Cys10) found in tuna MetMb and free Cys. However, no evidence has been given to confirm that this reaction occurs. In this review, new findings about the mechanism of this greening reaction are discussed, showing evidence of how free radicals produced from Cys oxidation under thermal treatment participate in the greening of tuna and horse muscle during thermal treatment. In addition, the reaction conditions are compared to other green myoglobins, such as sulfmyoglobin, verdomyoglobin, and cholemyoglobin.

Rapid and non-destructive spectroscopic method for classifying beef freshness using a deep spectral network fused with myoglobin information

A simple, novel, rapid, and non-destructive spectroscopic method that employs the deep spectral network for beef-freshness classification was developed. The deep-learning-based model classified beef freshness by learning myoglobin information and reflectance spectra over different freshness states. The reflectance spectra (480-920 nm) were measured from 78 beef samples for 17 days, and the datasets were sorted into three freshness classes based on their pH values. Myoglobin information showed statistically significant differences depending on the freshness; consequently, it was utilized as a crucial parameter for classification. The model exhibited improved performance when the reflectance spectra were combined with the myoglobin information. The accuracy of the proposed model improved to 91.9%, whereas that of the single-spectra model was 83.6%. Further, a high value for the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.958) was recorded. This study provides a basis for future studies on the investigation of myoglobin information associated with meat freshness.

Mechanism Underlying Green Discolouration of Myoglobin Induced by Atmospheric Pressure Plasma

In this study, we elucidated the mechanism underlying atmospheric pressure plasma (APP)-induced green discolouration of myoglobin. Green-coloured pigments are produced upon conversion of myoglobin into sulphmyoglobin, choleglobin, verdoheme, nitrihemin, or nitrimyoglobin. We exposed myoglobin dissolved in phosphate buffer to APP for 20 min and found a decrease in a* value (+redness/-greenness) and increase in b* value (+yellowness/-blueness) (P < 0.05). In the ultraviolet absorption spectrum, myoglobin treated with APP for 20 min showed absorption peaks at 503 and 630 nm, a spectrum different from that of sulphmyoglobin or choleglobin. The secondary structure and molecular weight of myoglobin were unaffected by APP treatment, excluding the possibility of verdoheme or nitrihemin formation. After APP treatment, nitrite was produced in myoglobin solution that provided a positive environment for nitrimyoglobin formation. However, the addition of 0.5% sodium dithionite, a strong reducing agent, to myoglobin solution resulted in the formation of deoxymyoglobin, which was subsequently converted to nitrosomyoglobin upon APP treatment to yield a desirable red colour. Thus, APP-induced green colouration in myoglobin solution is associated with nitrimyoglobin formation. The addition of the antioxidant resulted in the production of red colour in myoglobin solution after APP treatment owing to nitrosomyoglobin formation.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Processed Sulfur on Meat Quality and Oxidative Stability in Longissimus dorsi of Pigs

The effects of dietary supplementation of processed sulfur in pigs according to the level provided during the fattening phase were examined. The pigs were divided into three groups: control (CON), non-sulfur fed pigs; T1, 0.1% processed sulfur fed pigs; T2, 0.3% processed sulfur fed pigs. Physicochemical and sensory properties, as well as meat quality and oxidative stability of the Longissimus dorsi muscle were investigated. The feeding of processed sulfur did not affect moisture and protein contents (p>0.05). However, the crude fat content of T2 was significantly decreased compared to CON (p<0.05), while the pH value of T2 was significantly higher than those of both CON and T1 (p<0.05). Cooking loss and expressible drip of T2 were also significantly lower than that of CON (p<0.05). The redness of meat from T1 was significantly higher than both CON and T2 (p<0.01). During storage, lipid oxidation of the meat from sulfur fed pigs (T1 and T2) was inhibited compared to CON. Examination of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids revealed T2 to have significantly higher content than CON (p<0.05). In the sensory test, the juiciness and overall acceptability of T2 recorded higher scores than CON. This study demonstrated that meat from 0.3% processed sulfur fed pigs had improved nutrition and quality, with extended shelf-life.

Reduction of ferrylmyoglobin by hydrogen sulfide. Kinetics in relation to meat greening

The hypervalent meat pigment ferrylmyoglobin, MbFe(IV)═O, characteristic for oxidatively stressed meat and known to initiate protein cross-linking, was found to be reduced by hydrogen sulfide to yield sulfmyoglobin. Horse heart myoglobin, void of cysteine, was used to avoid possible interference from protein thiols. For aqueous solution, the reactions were found to be second-order, and an apparent acid catalysis could be quantitatively accounted for in terms of a fast reaction between protonated ferrylmyoglobin, MbFe(IV)═O,H(+), and hydrogen sulfide, H2S (k2 = (2.5 ± 0.1) × 10(6) L mol(-1) s(-1) for 25.0 °C, ionic strengh 0.067, dominating for pH < 4), and a slow reaction between MbFe(IV)═O and HS(-) (k2 = (1.0 ± 0.7) × 10(4) L mol(-1) s(-1) for 25.0 °C, ionic strengh 0.067, dominating for pH > 7). For meat pH, a reaction via the transition state {MbFe(IV)═O···H···HS}([symbol: see text]) contributed significantly, and this reaction appeared almost independent of temperature with an apparent energy of activation of 2.1 ± 0.7 kJ mol(-1) at pH 7.4, as a result of compensation among activation energies and temperature influence on pKa values explaining low temperature greening of meat.

The effect of vitamin E supplementation on discoloration of injection-site lesions in retail cuts and the greening reaction observed in injection-site lesions in muscles of the chuck

Concern has been raised about green discoloration of injection-site lesions in chuck muscles in modified-atmosphere packages. Objectives were: 1) to recreate green lesions, 2) to compare the severity of discoloration of injection-site lesions in chucks from carcasses of control or vitamin E-supplemented steers, and 3) to identify pigment(s) responsible for discoloration via in vitro color reactions. In Exp. 1, 23 steers (BW = 415 kg; 37 d before harvest) were injected with one of 12 pharmaceuticals, following label directions for route and dose, with the exception of a 5-mL maximum dose, to identify a product that could result in discoloration. Two vaccines (Products A and B) resulted in greening. In Exp. 2, 50 steers were injected (i.m.) with Product A and assigned to the control or vitamin E (1,000 IU/steer daily for 60 d) group. After retail display, 80 and 72% of steaks from the control and treatment groups, respectively, were discolored. Although vitamin E did not reduce (P = 0.53) greening, there was a trend (P = 0.10) toward delay discoloration of lesions from the treatment group. In Phase I of Exp. 3, pigments extracted from green lesions obtained from Exp. 2 were compared with solutions, exposed to a high partial pressure of oxygen (ppO), of myoglobin (Mb), copper sulfate, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), vaccine, and aluminum hydroxide either alone or in combination. In Phase II of Exp. 3, solutions of two or more of Mb, Cu, sodium sulfide, sodium sulfite, sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), and H2O2 were made at pH 7.2 or 5.5 and exposed to low or high ppO. Normal muscle tissue displayed a 3.2 and 56.7% decrease in absorbance/microg of protein as wavelength changed from 654 to 656 nm and 656 to 658 nm, respectively. Pigments from control and treatment group green tissue displayed a 164.5 and 621.3% increase, respectively, in absorbance/microg of protein as wavelength changed from 654 to 656 nm. As wavelength changed from 656 to 658 nm, the absorbance/microg of protein for control and treatment group lesions decreased by 75 and 109%, respectively. The Mb+Cu+Na2SO4 solution, at pH 5.5 and high ppO, exhibited similar absorbance trends as green lesions indicating that greening may result from a Mb, Cu, and Na2SO4 interaction. Results indicated that greening varies with pharmaceuticals and oxidation of tissue cannot be controlled with vitamin E supplementation. Research on the causative agents of green discoloration, with an emphasis on compounds containing sulfate or Cu, is needed.

Spoilage of vacuum-packaged dark, firm, dry meat at chill temperatures

The flora of vacuum-packaged dark, firm, dry meat included thred organisms not usually found on vacuum-packaged meat, Yersinia enterocolitica, Enterobacter liquefaciens, and Alteromonas putrefaciens. Y. enterocolitica did not affect the meat quality. Production of spoilage odors by E. liquefaciens could be prevented by addition of glucose or citrate to the meat. Greening of meat could be prevented by addition of glucose or citrate to the meat. Greening of meat by A. putrefaciens was not prevented by addition of glucose, as the organism degraded cysteine with the release of H2S even when glucose was present. To prevent greening, growth of A. putrefaciens must be inhibited by reducing the meat pH to less than 6.0.

Spoilage association of chicken leg muscle

The ability of pure cultures of bacteria isolated from spoiling chicken leg muscle to produce strong off-odors was tested by using sterile leg muscle sections. Changes in the flora during storage and the incidence and identity of organisms capable of producing strong off-odors were noted.

Volatiles produced by microorganisms isolated from refrigerated chicken at spoilage

Volatile components present at spoilage of refrigerated chicken breasts were identified using high-vacuum-low-temperature distillation techniques followed by analysis with combined temperature-programmed gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. A comparison was made of the compounds detected from both irradiated and non-irradiated muscle stored at 2 and 10 degrees C under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Isolates were randomly selected from the spoiled poultry, identified, and evaluated for their ability to produce volatile spoilage noted when grown on radiation-sterilized chicken. Several isolates that produced off-odors on sterile chicken breasts were examined. Twenty-two compounds were associated with spoilage. Some of the compounds found on both irradiated and unirradiated samples were considered to play only a minor role in the spoilage aroma or were present in low concentrations, since the aroma of spoiled irradiated chicken lacked the harsh odor notes typical of spoiled unirradiated chicken. Fifteen of the 22 compounds were considered to be unique to unirradiated, aerobically spoiled samples. Nine of these compounds, hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, heptadiene, methanol, and ethanol, were found on chicken spoiled at both 2 and 10 degrees C. xylene, benzaldehyde, and 2,3-dithiahexane were detected only in samples stored at 2 degrees C and methyl thiolacetate, 2-butanone, and ethyl propionate were associated with 10 degrees C spoilage. Fifty-eight isolates randomly selected from fresh, radiation-pasteurized, and unirradiated spoiled poultry were classified taxonomically, and 10 of them, which produced spoilage odors on sterilized chicken breasts, were selected for subsequent analysis of their volatiles. Isolates identified as Pseudomonas putrefaciens and Pseudomonas species that were members of groups I and II of Shewan's classification, as well as Flavobacterium and oxidative Moraxella, produced a number of the compounds found in the aroma of spoiled chicken. A total of 17 compounds were identified. Whereas no isolate produced all of the aroma compounds found in the aroma of spoiled chicken, together they did produce the nine found in unirradiated samples spoiled at either 2 or 10 degrees C, as well as methyl thiolacetate and xylene. Six compounds were present in the volatiles produced by the isolates but were absent in the volatiles identified from spoiled chicken. These were hydrogen cyanide, methyl isopropyl sulfide, 2-propane thiol, methyl propionate, ethyl benzene, and an unidentified compound.

Bacteriocin typing of Pseudomonas putrefaciens from food, human clinical specimens, and other sources

With the use of 4 bacteriocin donor strains of Pseudomonas putrefaciens most low G+C strins were readily distinguished from high G+C strains. Two bacteriocin donor strains exhibited autoinhibition when subjected to bacteriocin typing.

Characterization of hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria isolated from meat and poultry plants

A survey of the types of aerobic organisms able to produce H2S on peptone iron agar (Levin, 1968), and commonly occurring in meat and poultry plants, revealed that these could be divided into four distinct groups. The ability of representative strains of each type to grow at low temperatures and cause off-odors on chicken muscle was examined. The results are discussed in relation to the role of these organisms in the psychrophilic spoilage of meat and meat products.