Effects of supercritical CO₂ treatment on color, lipid oxidation, heme iron, non-heme iron and metmyoglobin contents in ground pork

The color, lipid oxidation, heme iron (HI) and non-heme iron (NHI) contents, metmyoglobin content and Soret band of myoglobin of ground pork subjected to supercritical CO₂ treatment under different conditions, or to heat treatment (40°C, 2 h) and subsequent storage at 4°C were evaluated during 9-day period. Supercritical CO₂ treatment significantly increased CIE L* and b* values of ground pork during subsequent storage, while the HI content was slightly affected. In general, CIE a* value and metmyoglobin content were decreased. Supercritical CO₂ treatment for 2 h could increase the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value, while treatment for 1 h or less had no effect. The NHI content could be increased only after treatment at above 40°C or 17.2 MPa for 2 h. The Soret band of myoglobin was shifted to longer wavelength. Increasing treatment temperature from 35°C to 45°C could increase CIE L*, a*, b* and TBARS values, HI and NHI contents of the ground pork, while decreasing metmyoglobin content. As the treatment pressure increased from 13.8 MPa to 20.7 MPa, CIE b* and TBARS values were decreased, while the NHI and metmyoglobin contents were increased. However, the other parameters were unchanged. Extending exposure time from 0.5 h to 2 h could increase CIE L*, b* and TBARS values, HI contents, while decreasing CIE a* value and metmyoglobin content. Correlation analysis showed that the TBARS value was significantly and negatively correlated with the HI content or metmyoglobin content in samples treated at 40°C or above for 2 h.