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Updated: May 27, 2026

The Effect of the Application of Thyme Essential Oil on Microbial Load During Meat Drying
Published on: March 14, 2018
Effects of temperature and storage duration on the microflora, physicochemical and sensory changes of vacuum- or
B H Lee1, R E Simard, L C Laleye
1Research Station, Agriculture Canada, St-Jean, Québec J3B 6Z8, Canada.
Abstract:
A comparative study of vacuum packaging alone or vacuum followed by nitrogen back-flushing of fresh pork stored at -4, 0, 3 and 7°C for 49 days showed that pork stored at -4°C generally exhibited small changes in microbial numbers, pH, exudate, appearance and off-odour. Samples stored above 0°C could not be kept beyond 14-28 days without obvious changes, regardless of package atmospheres. Storage life was inversely related to temperature. The initial psychrotrophs consisted primarily of Pseudomonas spp. but these organisms diminished as Lactobacillus spp. multiplied in both atmospheres. Few significant differences in numbers of fecal coliforms were found between treatments, although the numbers tended to increase in samples stored at 7°C. Nitrogen packaging did not reduce exudate losses as compared with vacuum packaging.
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