Cellulose-based absorbent pad loaded with Carum copticum essential oil for shelf life extension of refrigerated chicken meat

This study aimed to investigate the effect of active absorbent pad containing Carum copticum essential oil (C. copticum EO) on shelf life and quality of refrigerated chicken meat. C. copticum EO release, total viable count (TVC), pH, total volatile nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and sensory attributes were evaluated during 18 days of storage. The results showed that the release of thymol decreased gradually during storage and reduced to the lowest level on day 21. Active pad resulted in lower TVC, TVB-N, pH and TBARS level compared with the reference/without active pad. The sensory quality of chicken meat was maintained longer compared to the control sample, which was attributed to the significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of C. copticum EO against spoilage microorganisms. Active absorbent pad loaded with 100 mu l C. copticum EO demonstrated the best performance in extending the shelf life and maintaining the sensory attributes of the refrigerated chicken meat.