The Effects of Nitrite Treatment on the Lipid Composition, Fatty Acid Composition, and Susceptibility to Oxidation of Pork Biceps Femoris Muscle

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the antioxidant effect of nitrite on total, neutral, and polar lipids and fatty acid composition in laboratory-cooked ground pork. Muscle samples (Biceps femoris) were analyzed using Iatroscan, gas chromatography, phosphorus content, and TBARS value. The total and neutral lipid contents of muscle were higher in nitrite-untreated meat (0 ppm) than in nitrite-treated meat (100 ppm) but the reverse was observed for polar lipid contents. The results for neutral lipids showed a similar trend when compared with total lipids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids contents of total, neutral and polar lipid in 100 ppm treated meat were higher than that of 0 ppm. The phosphorus content was higher in 100 ppm meat than in 0 ppm but the reverse was observed for TBARS value. These results showed that the addition of 100 ppm nitrite to ground pork resulted in a remarkable antioxidant effect during refrigeration storage.