Fluid distribution in pork, measured by x-ray diffraction, interference microscopy and centrifugation compared to paleness measured by fiber optics

Moderately PSE (pale, soft, exudative) and moderately DFD (dark, firm, dry) pork was examined by x-ray diffraction for interfilament separation, by differential interference contrast microscopy for interfiber area, and was centrifuged to measure water holding capacity (WHC). Internal reflectance spectra were measured by fiber optics. For PSE to DFD pork, filament separation ranged from 39 to 48 nm, interfiber area from 42 to 3%, and WHC from 49 to 64%, respectively. The correlation of reflectance with interfilament separation varied considerably with wavelength (reaching r = -.83 at 680 nm, P less than .005). The correlation of reflectance with interfiber area was more uniform across the spectrum (reaching r = .90 at 450 nm, P less than .005), as was the correlation of reflectance with WHC (reaching r = -.80 at 400 nm, P less than .005). At 24 h postmortem, fiber-optic spectrophotometry may be used as a rapid, nondestructive method to predict WHC and potential fluid losses from commercial pork with a moderate range from PSE to DFD. Interfiber area was correlated negatively with filament lattice area and WHC, but no significant correlation was found between filament lattice area and WHC. Filament separation was decreased only slightly by centrifugation. These results indicate that at 24 h postmortem the extra fluid released from PSE pork already has been lost from the myofilament lattice and is awaiting release from compartments downstream such as interfiber and interfascicular spaces.