Gas chromatography-olfactometry analysis of the volatile compounds of two commercial Irish beef meats

The volatile flavour compounds of two commercial Irish beef meats (labelled as conventional and organic) were evaluated by gas chromatography-olfactometry and were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The volatile compounds were isolated in a model mouth system. Gas chromatography-olfactometry was performed by a group of eight assessors using the detection frequency methodology. The odours of the detected compounds were described as well. Eighty-one volatile compounds were identified, 11 compounds of which possessed odour activity in the first beef sample and 14 of which in the second meat sample. Ten volatile flavour compounds were common to both: methanethiol, dimethyl sulphide, 2-butanone, ethyl acetate, 2- and 3-methylbutanal, an unknown compound, 2-octanone, decanal and benzothiazole. Two unknown compounds were only detected in the first sample while 2,3-pentanedione, 4-methyl-3-penten-2-one, 2-heptanone, dimethyl trisulphide and nonanal were only perceived in the second beef. Significant differences in terms of detection frequency, odour characteristics and in nature of the volatile flavour compounds were emphasised between the two samples.