Color characteristics were evaluated on 48 pork backbones. After 6 d postmortem, six 1-inch-thick sections of lumbar vertebrae were cut from each backbone. Lumbar vertebrae were treated with different concentrations ofascorbic acid, with combination treatments ofascorbic acid and natural antioxidants, or left untreated. Bones were packaged in one ofthree systems: high-oxygen modifiedatmospherepackaging (MAP), ultra-lowoxygen MAP, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) overwrap trays. Bones were visually evaluated by a trained panel on d 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8. Lightness (L*) was also measured on d 0, 2, and 8 of display. After 8 d of display, antioxidant- treated bones packaged in highoxygen MAP were more desirable than thosein PVC overwrap trays. Bones packaged in ultra-low-oxygen MAP became less desirableover 8 d of display. Solutions of 1.875% and2.50% ascorbic acid yielded the most desirable color after 8 d for bones in high-oxygen MAP and in PVC overwrap trays. Bonestreated with 1.875% or 2.50% ascorbic acidtended to have lighter color (higher L*) on d 8 for high-oxygen MAP and PVC overwrap trays, whereas an overall difference was notobserved for lightness for bones packaged inultra-low-oxygen MAP.
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