Assessment of the quality of refrigerated and frozen pork by multivariate exploratory techniques

Abstract Pork loin and leg were evaluated 24 h after slaughter and during refrigerated (5 °C) and frozen storage for microbial counts, pH, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and bioactive amines. Spermine was the prevalent amine in fresh pork loin and leg, followed by spermidine and agmatine. During refrigerated storage, pH, TVB-N, mesophilic and psychrotrophic counts increased and no changes ( p