Given the positive results obtained with respect to the analyzed microbiological metrics (i.e., the absence of pathogens) and sensory stability up to 21 days for the 100% CO2 treatment, only this group was subjected to sensory evaluation at 28 days. According to the average scores given by the panel, the samples did not suffer significant changes (P b 0.05) with respect to the examined attributes at any point during the storage period, demonstrating the stability of meat stored in a packaging system containing 100% CO2 for up to 28 days at 1 °C (Table 4).
Atmospheres containing CO2 effectively increase the storage period of meat products by reducing microbial growth (O'Keeffe & Hood, 1980). Given this fact and in agreement with the present study, Scholtz et al. (1992) examined the shelf life of pork Longissimus thoracis muscles stored for 21 days at 0 °C in different packaging systems (A: 25% CO2 and 75% O2, B: vacuum and C: 100% CO2). This group reported that treatment C was rated the highest in terms of odor, and the shelf life was longer than for the other systems.