A meta-analysis of the effect of gamma irradiation on chicken meat quality: Microbiology and colour

A meta-analysis of the effect gamma irradiation on microbial status and colour in raw chicken meat was performed. total 14 studies were selected data about viable count (TVC), coliforms (TCC), instrumental measurements - lightness (L*), redness (a*) yellowness (b*) extracted for evaluation treated untreated meat. Due to high between study heterogeneity, conducted through random-effects model applied mean difference (effect size) each outcome interest. The results showed that considerably decreased TVC TCC (P<0.001). Gamma rays also significantly diminished L* (P=0.013), but increased a* b* meta-regression models dose radiation contributed overall (P=0.006), (P=0.074) a*(P=0.007). further influenced by storage (P=0.007), while package affected increase (P=0.100).