Effect of Storage in Display Cases on the Sensory Quality of Chicken Breast Meat (M. Pectoralis)

ABSTRACT This paper describes a study on the determination of sensory quality of chicken breast muscles packaged with a PVC overwrap and under high-oxygen modified atmosphere (MAP: 75% O2 and 25% CO2), and stored in the display case (exposure to light and temperature fluctuations). For a more complete characterization of the raw material, the volume of drip loss in the package, and meat pH, L*, a*, and b* color components were measured. For comparison purposes, the quality of meat maintained under dark cold storage was also evaluated (control samples). In total, 64 PVC overwrap and 64 MAP packages were evaluated. Chicken breast muscles stored in the display case on PVC overwrap and in MAP packaging presented acceptable, despite but not the highest sensory quality until days 7 and 8 of storage, respectively. The meat under dark cold storage maintained high quality until the end of the experiment. When stored in the display case, packaging in MAP allowed extending chicken breast meat shelf life by at least 1 day in comparison with PVC overwrap packaging.