Preliminary Investigation on the Relationship between Raman Spectra of Beef and Metmyoglobin and Metmyoglobin Reductase Activity

A hand-held Raman spectroscopic device was used as a rapid nondestructive testing device to predict the metmyoglobin (MetMb) and metmyoglobin reductase activity (MRA) values on the surface layer of fresh beef. Longissimus dorsi muscles were from 10 young bulls (Holstein-Friesian) from two different cattle farms (group A = 5 and B = 5). The Raman spectra of 100 samples were correlated with the MetMb and MRA values using partial least squares regression (PLSR). Two groups could be discriminated, and the separate correlation models were better than the joint correlation model for the fresh beef. The coefficients of determination are R(2) = 0.81 (group A) and R(2) = 0.87 (group B) for MetMb and R(2) = 0.80 (group A) and R(2) = 0.85 (group B) for MRA. The results show the usefulness of Raman spectra in predicting the inner traits such as MetMb and MRA during meat storage. In conclusion, it is feasible to determine the MetMb and MRA values by Raman spectroscopy. Color is an important indicator of beef freshness and can vary depending on the age, sex, and breed of the cow. They play a very important role in human nutrition. The color of meat is an important indicator of meat freshness, and many researchers are already investigating the causes of color changes. The research was conducted in this environment.