Storage stability of functional chicken meat bullets coated with composite antimicrobial biodegradable films under different packaging conditions

Storage stability of processed chicken meat bullets (CMB) packaged under different packaging conditions in supplementation with composite antimicrobial biodegradable (CAB) films impregnated with 0.5% (v/v) cinnamaldehyde, a natural antimicrobial, was evaluated. Different treatments such as aerobic (aerobic packaged product, CAB-coated product and aerobic packaging), modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; MAP 50 : 50; CO2 and N-2, F-MAP; CAB-coated product and MAP) and vacuum (VAC; vacuum packaged, F-VAC; CAB-coated product and vacuum) are assessed for various physico-chemical (pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances number, peroxide value and free fatty acids), microbiological (standard plate count, psychrophiles, coliforms, yeast and moulds, Staphylococci sp.) and sensory quality characteristics at 7-day intervals throughout the storage period of 35 days under refrigerated (4 +/- 1 degrees C) conditions. The CMB coated with CAB films under MAP (F-MAP) conditions had significantly (P < 0.05) better value for water activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances number, peroxide value and free fatty acids throughout the storage in comparison to the Control (MAP). Standard plate count was significantly (P < 0.05) lower for F-MAP than all other treatments. Staphylococci sp., coliforms, Salmonellae sp., yeast and mould, and psychrophiles were completely absent in CAB-coated products throughout the storage period. All the CAB products had better (P < 0.05) sensory attributes than their respective Controls during storage. Results concluded that the CMB coated in developed CAB films have a storage life of more than 35 days under MAP conditions under refrigerated (4 +/- 1 degrees C) conditions with the acceptable physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory quality attributes.