This paper investigates whether the combination of the addition of extracts derived from plants (plants derived extracts, PDE) to pork feedstu and the meat conservation conditions (packaging and time exposure) aect consumers’ perception of pork quality, studied by means of visual appraisal, purchase intention and a home test. The three PDE groups were control, garlic extract and blended oil composed by carvacrol, timol, cynamic aldehide and eugenol extracts. Meat was packed in film, vacuum or modified atmosphere (MAP) packaging. A visual test was designed comprising a four-day storage step followed by a four-day exposure step in a refrigerated island display case. All studied eects influenced visual appraisal scores, being time exposure and packaging eects more noticeable than PDE or pig-sex eects. Meat from MAP scored higher than the rest. Scores decreased as exposure time increased, but this evolution was less perceptible in vacuum packaging and was faster for meat from the garlic group. Only gender aected the visual appraisal scores, with women scoring higher than men. Neither PDE addition nor pig sex aected to purchase intention whereas both exposure time and packaging type did. A maximum of 2 days of exposure would be recommended. In the home-test, meat from male pigs obtained higher scores than meat from female pigs, and none of the consumer-related eects influenced the given scores.
Calidad de canal, carne y sus derivados 