Evaluation of the Quality Characteristics of Premium Pork Loins

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to determine the quality attributes of premium pork loins.Materials and MethodsPork loins (n = 30/treatment) from 5 premium (PRE A, B, C, D, and E) and 2 commodity brands (COM A and B), were purchased from food service purveyors and commercial abattoirs. Loins were fabricated at 14 or 15 d postmortem. Prior to fabrication, loins were weighed in the package to obtain an initial weight. After unpackaging, loins were dried and reweighed to determine the amount of purge lost during storage (PL). After unpackaging, L*, a* and b* values were collected on the ventral side of the loin using a Hunter Lab Miniscan spectrophotometer (Illuminant A, 2.54-cm aperture, 10° observer, Hunter Lab Associates Laboratory, Reston, VA). Each loin was evaluated for subjective color (SC) and marbling scores according to the National Pork Board Color and Marbling Standards. Loins were cut immediately posterior to the spinalis dorsi and the posterior end of the loin was used for all analyses. Loins were then fabricated into 2.54 cm chops. Chops were assigned to either: pH, instrumental (IC) and SC analysis, visual marbling (VM) and proximate analysis, Warner-Bratzler Shear force (WBSF), Slice Shear force (SSF) analysis or drip loss analysis. Chops designated for instrumental and visual color analysis were evaluated 30 min after slicing. Chops designated for WBSF and SSF were cooked on clam style grills to a peak temperature of 71°C.ResultsAll PRE brands were similar (P > 0.05) with lesser (P 0.05) found among the other PRE products. Commodity A was also tougher (P 0.05) chop color score, however COM B, was lighter (P 0.05) among all PRE brands, with only PRE C having a greater (P 0.05) in a* was found among the PRE brands and only PRE D and E differed (P 0.05) found among the 2 COM brands and the other 3 PRE brands. However, for chop VM, the 2 COM brands had less (P < 0.05) marbling than all PRE brands, except PRE B and C. For fat percentage, all brands had between 2 to 3% fat, with COM A having less (P < 0.05) fat than all PRE brands other than PRE B and D. Premium A, C and D had less (P < 0.05) weight lost as purge than any of the other brands.ConclusionThe differences observed within the quality traits evaluated show variation among different premium pork loin brands. This provides evidence that consumers and retailers will receive different levels of pork quality and eating satisfaction dependent on the premium brand purchased.