Effect of acetic acid on some quality properties of chicken breast during refrigeration

This study was conducted at the laboratories of Food Science Department at the Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University in order to study the possibility of prolonging the shelf life of chicken breast by vacuum packaging and treating with acetic acid. Chicken breasts were immersed into a solution having 1% or 2% of acetic acid concentration for 30 sec. and packaged with vacuumed and not vacuumed sacs. Samples were preserved at 4±1 ºC for 21 days and examined after 0, 7, 14 and 21 days of refrigeration for microbiological, chemical and sensory properties. Microbiological analyses included determination of total count of bacteria, coliforms, Salmonella, anaerobic bacteria, Pseudomonas, yeasts and molds. Chemical analyses included determination of pH value and non-protein nitrogen. Sensory properties were evaluated for color, smell and texture. Results revealed that samples immersed into a solution with 1% and 2% of acetic acid concentration had affectively improved quality and sensory properties of chicken breast for more than 14 days compared with control samples and the samples treated by 2% of acetic acid with vacuum packaging had the best quality results.

Postharvest Application of Acetic Acid Vapour Improved Quality and Storage Ability of "Baladi" Grape Cultivar During Cold Storage

Grape Vitis Vinifera L. var. "Baladi" was fumigated with acetic acid at two concentrations 75 and 100 %, during two successive seasons 2008/2009, to study their effect comparing of sulfur dioxide pads and control. However, Sulfur dioxide pads were packed in 40 μm polyethylene bags thickness at two concentrations 1 and 1.5 g/ kg fruit. All treatments were stored at 0 ± 1 Cº and 90-95% RH for three months, in cooling units of pome and vine research department in Swaida. Chemical and physical properties were assessed every 15 days intervals, and in every time shelf life was measured for three days at room temperature and calculated as total loss %. Acetic acid treatment effected as well as or better than sulfur dioxide pads during cold storage. Which, acetic acid fumigation decreased weight loss %, decay % and berry shatter %, moreover, berry adherence strength (g) and berry firmness (kg/cm2) were increased, but T.S.S %, total acidity % and sugars % have not significant differences comparing to sulfur dioxide fumigation and control. In addition to that, the application of acetic acid increased shelf life in days by decreasing total loss %; also this treatment improved some sensory properties and was satisfied for consumer demand.