The correlations between discriminating variables and standardized canonical discriminant functions (data not shown), indicated that function 1, which was particularly effective in separating non-irradiated samples and those irradiated with 2 kGy, was more strongly correlated to β-tocopherol, C16:1, C22:0 and C24:0, which tended to be present in higher levels in samples irradiated with the 2 kGy dose. On the other hand, function 2 separated groups corresponding to samples irradiated with 6 and 10 kGy from those irradiated with 2 kGy and non-irradiated. This function was mostly correlated to fat, protein, C18:3n3 and TBARS formation inhibition. Finally, function 3 individualized samples irradiated with 6 kGy from the ones treated with 10 kGy, being more strongly correlated to fat, mannitol, protocatechuic acid (higher in samples irradiated with 10 kGy), C12:0 and C23:0 (higher in samples irradiated with 6 kGy).