Relationship between metmyoglobin percentage and sensory evaluation of discoloration of venison from wild yezo sika deer

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the surface metmyoglobin percentage and sensory evaluation of muscle samples (M. longissimus thoracis) from female wild yezo sika deer (n＝5). 　The muscle samples (2.5×2.5×1.5cm) were placed in a display cabinet and kept under cool white fluorescent lights at 4°C for 32 h. The surface metmyoglobin percentage in the muscle samples was determined at 0，8，14，20，26，and 32 h using a spectrophotometer. Sensory evaluations of the meat color were performed by untrained panelists who compared samples at 0 hours (reference) with each hourly sample using a triangle difference test. The metmyoglobin percentages increased significantly with time and were approximately 30 and 39% at 8 and 14 h, respectively. Male panelist recognized a significant difference between reference samples and 14 hour samples, although they did not identify a difference between reference samples and 8 hour samples. By contrast, female panelist recognized a significant difference between reference samples and 8 hour samples.