UHPLC-MS/MS-Based Metabolomics Identifies Freshness Biomarkers and Temporal Spoilage Threshold in Refrigerated Goose Meat

The dynamic metabolic landscape underlying goose meat quality deterioration during refrigerated storage remains incompletely elucidated. Here, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS)-based widely targeted metabolomics was employed to characterize metabolic profiling in refrigerated goose meat. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed 211 differential metabolites, while random forest regression (RFR) identified 30 candidate biomarkers. Seven metabolites, including xanthine, oxidized glutathione, and inosine 5′-monophosphate, exhibited significant correlations with total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N). By integrating potential biomarkers, metabolic pathways involving purines, amino acids, and sugars were identified as underlying mechanisms of goose meat spoilage. Notably, through comprehensive analysis of time-dependent correlations between physicochemical properties and metabolic profiles, a temporal threshold for quality deterioration in refrigerated goose meat was identified as day 5. These findings deepen our understanding of metabolite variations in refrigerated goose meat and provide a basis for optimizing storage protocols. The identified biomarkers may enable rapid detection kits and smart packaging systems for poultry industry applications.