The effective product life of vacuum-packaged beef imported into Saudi Arabia by sea, as assessed by chemical, microbiological and organoleptic criteria.

Five transport and storage trials were conducted on commercial shipments of vacuum-packaged beef half striploins imported into Saudi Arabia by sea from Australia, New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland. The cold chains, from packaging to the end of chilled storage in Saudi Arabia, were monitored using miniature electronic data loggers placed in cartons of striploins. Development of spoilage microfloras was followed from packaging to trial end using a differential aerobic plate count technique. Changes in meat pH, total volatile nitrogen (TVN) and free fatty acid (FFA) content were determined over the storage period. Sensory evaluations to identify spoilage conditions and to determine consumer acceptability were also conducted over the course of storage in Saudi Arabia. Results indicated that aerobic plate counts, TVN and FFA were all unsuitable as indicators of the fitness, or acceptability of vacuum-packaged beef for human consumption. Under good but commercially realistic conditions (i.e. normal ultimate pH beef, initial microbial contamination at packaging of less than 10(3)/cm(2), packaging, film oxygen transmission rate less than 40 ml/m(2)/24 h/atm at 23°C and 90% R.H., and mean product temperature during transport and storage of 0°C), vacuum-packaged beef transported by sea has an anticipated product life of at least 90 days measured from the date of slaughter. Under the conditions just stated, deterioration of meat texture resulting from excessive aging rather than the onset of overt microbial spoilage will limit the effective product life of vacuum-packaged beef.