Changes in flavour volatiles of whole pasteurized milk as affected by packaging material and storage time

Changes in volatile profiles of whole pasteurized milk stored under fluorescent light at 4 degrees C, packaged in different containers were monitored for a period of 7 days in a study designed to differentiate between light-induced oxidative and purely autoxidative effects related to packaging material. Changes in volatiles were measured using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, while microbiological and sensory analyses were used to assess milk quality. Two distinct patterns of milk flavour deterioration were observed. In light-exposed samples, a light-induced oxidation mechanism prevailed while in light-protected samples, an autoxidation mechanism was apparent. Under both conditions, the concentration of selected odorous compounds increased with storage time. Microbiological data correlated poorly with both sensory and GC/MS data. Sensory data correlated well with selected volatile compounds pointing to dimethyl disulphide, pentanal, hexanal and heptanal as potential markers of fresh milk quality. Based on sensory analysis, the optimal shelf life of the whole pasteurized milk used in this study was approximately 5 days. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.