The impact of single antimicrobial intervention treatment with cetylpyridinium chloride, trisodium phosphate, chlorine dioxide or lactic acid on ground beef lipid, instrumental color and sensory characteristics

The effects of antimicrobial agents on ground beef were evaluated to determine if instrumental color, sensory or odor characteristics were impacted. Trimmings were treated with 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), 200-ppm chlorine dioxide (CLO), 0.5% lactic acid (LA), 10% trisodium phosphate (TSP), or an untreated control (C). Ground beef made from trimmings with CLO and TSP were similar (P > 0.05) in L∗ values to the control; however, samples were redder (a∗; P<0.05) than the control. Likewise, sensory panelists found ground beef from the CPC and TSP treatments redder (P<0.05) for worst point color than the control by day 2 of display. The CLO, CPC and TSP treatments were similar (P>0.05) to the control in beef odor intensity until day 3 of display. Therefore, the use of antimicrobial agents on beef trimmings may not adversely affect, and may improve bulk ground beef color and odor characteristics.