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Abstract The formation of nitric oxide myoglobin from nitrite and myoglobin involves a complex series of reactions not all of which are completely understood even now, and the stability of the cured colour, so important from the marketing point of view, continues to be investigated. The amount of nitrite necessary for complete formation of nitric oxide myoglobin is very small and the presence of no more than 25 mg/kg of nitrite in the cured meat is enough to ensure an adequately stable colour. At least four times this level is essential to produce a full development of the typical cured flavour. Very little is known of the mechanism of the reactions leading to the formation of cured flavours in cooked products or of the identity of the volatile substances responsible for it.
MacDougall et al. (Sat,) studied this question.