The Application of a Compound Natural Preservative Solution to Chilled Beef and Mutton Under Vacuum Packaging During Refrigerated Storage

A compound natural preservative (CNP) was produced by mixing clove cinnamon extracts with tea polyphenol, chitosan, propolis, nisin and lysozyme. Its effects on microbiological [total aerobic counts (TACs)], chemical [total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), 2-thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS), total reducing activity (TRA) and pH values], and colorimetric characteristics of chilled beef and mutton that were kept under vacuum packaging during refrigerated storage at 4 +/- 1 degrees C were investigated for 4 weeks. Results indicated that the CNP significantly inhibited the growth of microbes, improved TRA values, and decreased TBARS and TVB-N values to some extent especially at the later storage time, but had no obvious advantage in maintaining the color stability of beef and mutton when compared to lactic acid (LA, positive control) and sterile distilled water (DW, negative control). The shelf-lives of chilled beef and mutton were observed to be 3 - 4 weeks for the CNP treatment. The susceptibility of meat species to lipid oxidation was greater in beef than mutton, but spoilage as a consequence of bacteria load was greater in mutton than beef.