L23: Meat Spoilage Flashcards
Which kind of microbes predominate at spoilage?
A few kinds of bacteria
What mechanism produces lactic acid in the dead animal?
Anaerobic glycolysis
What is the pH drop in the first 24 hours?
7 to 5.5
Is a low or high pH better?
Low
How can you speed up a low pH?
Electrical stimulation
In which animals is rigor mortis very fast?
Stressed
What do proteins degrade to and how does this affect sensory quality?
Amino acids, doesn’t
What do free amino acids degrade to an how does this affect sensory quality?
NH3, H2S, amines - putrefaction
What happens to myoglobin on oxidation?
Becomes green/grey
What do carbohydrates oxidise to and what is this process called?
Acids - souring
What do fats oxidise to and what is this process called?
Aldehydes and ketones - rancidity
What are 4 macroscopic signs of bacterial spoilage?
Slime layer, abnormal colour, offensive odour, abnormal texture
What are 4 signs of spoilage by yeast and mould?
Stickiness, visible fungal threads, musty flavour, rancidity
What microbe can still grow on frozen meats?
Fungi
What does penicillin look like?
White
What does mucor look like?
Whiskers
What does cladosporum look like?
Black spots
What does sporotrichum look like?
White spots
What does rhodotorula look like?
Pink
Which meat does Pseudomonas especially grow on?
Beef
Which temperature does Pseudomonas especially grow at?
Less than 5
How does Pseudomonas affect pH?
Generates a lower pH
What are characteristics of Pseudomonas?
Obligate anaerobe, gram -ve rod
Which meats are especially susceptible to Brocothrix?
Pork and lamb
Above which temperatures is Brocothrix dominant?
Over 5
Which pH is brocothrix?
5-9
What are characteristics of Brocothrix?
Facultative anaerobe, gram +ve rod
Above what cfu/g do you see slime?
10^8
Above what cfu/g do you get malodour?
10^7
What is redox potential like in minced meat?
High
What are three examples of bacteria colonising minced meat?
Pseudomonas, Enterobacteriacea, Brocothrix
Which kind of bacteria grow on low pH meat?
Lactate fermenters
Which kind of pH meat does Brochothrix grow on?
High
What are two examples of lactate fermenters giving a cheesy odour?
Leuconostoc, Carnobacterium
What is in modified atmosphere packaging for beef?
80% O2, 20% CO2
What is an advantage and disadvantage of high oxygen in MAP beef?
Nice and red but get aerobic putrefaction by Pseudomonas
What is an advantage and disadvantage of adding CO2 in MAP beef?
SLows down putrefaction but still permits spoilage due to lactate fermenters