Stable Micro Systems Launches New Testing Blade for Measuring Poultry Tenderness

27 Mar 2013 --- Stable Micro Systems, the world-leading food texture analysis expert, has announced the launch of the Meullenet-Owens Razor Shear (MORS) blade. It is being hailed as the quickest, most accurate and simplest tool for measuring poultry tenderness – an attribute critical to consumer acceptance which has historically been assessed using costly and time-consuming sensory evaluation.

The Meullenet-Owens Razor Shear method uses an extremely sharp craft knife blade of defined dimensions, attached to a TA.XTPlus texture analyser, to conduct a cutting / shearing test. Because the blade is narrow and penetrates to only 20mm, the MORS test makes only a small incision into the sample, causing far less damage to it than traditional instrumental or human cutting tests. Repeatability is also optimised because the blade can be removed and replaced regularly – or even after every test – to ensure edge sharpness

Trials of the Meullenet-Owens Razor Shear blade show it can perform 60 measurements per hour – double the number that can be achieved with an Allo-Kramer shear test, one of the better-known instrumental poultry testing methods. Both the Allo-Kramer multiple blade compression system and Warner-Bratzler shear blades are widely used for evaluating poultry tenderness and have become industry-standard testing methods. However, it has been reported their results are significantly affected by sample dimensions – a concern eliminated by the use of the MORS blade.

The new system claims to exhibit a higher correlation with human sensory test results while testing just as reliably as, but faster than, other instrumental methods. Tests using the MORS blade are conducted on whole intact fillets, which minimises experimental errors attributable to sample preparation, shortens sample preparation time and leads to a simpler testing solution. Stable Micro Systems says it can make significant savings in the labour, time and expertise needed to implement routine quality control in the poultry industry.

In the tests, razor blade shear energy (N*mm) is calculated as the area under the force deformation curve from the beginning to the end of the test. Maximum shear force (N) is also recorded. Both parameters are used as instrumental indicators of meat tenderness. Results show four or more shears per fillet (in predetermined locations) will provide a reliable estimate of poultry tenderness.

The Meullenet-Owens Razor Shear blade and test method are a result of research carried out at the University of Arkansas by Dr Jean-François Meullenet and Professor Casey Owens.