30C-12

Correlation of electronic nose data with storage time and sensory panel ratings on raw ground turkey

G. FOLKES and M. O. Balaban. Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, PO Box 110370, Gainesville, FL 32611-0370

Turkey meat is becoming popular, and currently is the fourth leading protein choice in the US. Ground turkey is a lean, versatile, and inexpensive alternative to ground beef. A rapid, non-destructive method of quality measurement is desirable.

The objective was to assess the effectiveness of the e-nose to discriminate samples by storage time, and to correlate e-nose readings with sensory panel results.

Fresh ground turkey samples were stored at 1.7 and 7.2°C for 0, 2, 4, and 6 days. Duplicate samples were presented to an e-nose and an untrained 25 person panel. A difference from control test was used, with 2 hidden controls of fresh frozen samples, thawed before the panel. ANOVA and LSD were applied to sensory data. E-nose readings were treated using Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) with storage time as the grouping variable. Sensory data was averaged and divided into 5 groups. DFA was applied to the e-nose data with sensory averages as the grouping variable.

ANOVA was performed on sensory data and treatments were ranked significantly different (alpha=.05) at both temperatures (1.7°C & 7.2°C: p-value=.0001). The LSD showed that at 1.7°C panelists could not tell the difference between control and treated samples. At 7.2°C panelists could tell the difference between control and day 2, but days 4 and 6 were rated equally. DFA analysis with storage time as grouping variable gave 100% classification rate. This implies the e-nose can predict storage time of ground turkey samples. Similarly, DFA analysis with sensory averages as the grouping variables resulted in 100% classification rates. This suggests the e-nose can successfully emulate sensory analysis.

The e-nose can provide fast and non-destructive quality evaluation of ground turkey. Because sensory analysis is the definitive criterion for acceptance, the e-nose could offer an acceptable alternative to current quality evaluation methods.

Session 30C, Muscle Foods: Tenderness, Quality, Processing, Marination, Oxidation, and Shelf-Life
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM, 2001-06-24 Room Hall D

2001 IFT Annual Meeting - New Orleans, Louisiana