Volatile compounds in fresh meats subjected to high pressure processing: Effect of the packaging material

The effect of high pressure treatment (400 MPa, 10 min at 12 °C) on the volatile profile of minced beef and chicken breast, packaged with or without aluminum foil in a multilayer polymeric bag, was investigated. The analysis of the volatile fraction was carried out by dynamic headspace extraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pressurization produced significant changes in the levels of some volatile compounds presumably coming from microbial activity. Some alcohols and aldehydes decreased, while other compounds, such as 2,3-butanedione and 2-butanone, were more abundant in high pressure processed meats. A significant migration of compounds from the plastic material was observed, mainly branched-chain alkanes and benzene compounds. Two functions built by the principal component analysis explained a high percentage of the variance and could be used to separate the samples into four distinct groups, according to high pressure treatment and packaging material.