This study was carried out to investigate the effect of modified atmosphere packaging and frozen storage period in the colour characteristics of chick thigh meat. The treatments were 70%CO2+15%N2+15%O2, 70%CO2 +30%N2, 70%CO2+ 30% O2 ,50%N2+50%O2, vacuumand clove oil at different frozen storage periods (1, 30, 60,and 90 days at -18 C). An 84 chick thigh meat pieces were utilized in this study. Polyethylene bags were used in packaging meat under vacuum, then filled with different gases. Colour parameters such as lightness (L*), redness/greenness (a*), yellowness/blueness (b*), Chroma (?C), the total colour difference (?E), and hue angle (h) were studied. The results demonstration that the modified atmosphere packaging treatments have a significant (P<0.05) effect on L*, a*, h values, but b*, ?C, and ?E parameter were not significantly affected by the treatments. Furthermore, the frozen storage periods have a significant (P<0.05) effect on L*, a*, b*, h, ?C, and ?E values. The result clarified that the effect of the interference between the modified atmosphere packaging treatments and frozen storage periods on a*, ?E, ?C, and h values was not significant, but its effect on L* and b* was significant (P<0.05). The results also showed that the highest L* value was 54.12 by using vacuumed packaging treatment on 30 days of frozen storage period. a* value was increased by using modified atmosphere packaging treatments but decreased with the increase of frozen storage period. b* value was ranged between 0.70 by control to 16.65 by using 70%CO2+15%N2+15%O2. The lowest ?E, ?C, and h values were 4.96, 2.70 and 0.53 by using70%CO2+30%N2, 70%CO2+30%N2 and clove oil on 30, 1 and 1 days of frozen storage period respectively.

This study aimed to explore the utilization of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) for chicken thigh meat pieces (CTMP) during frozen storage periods (FSP) of 1, 30, 60, and 90 days at −18°C. The treatments were divided into seven groups which are control, vacuum, 15% O2/15% N2/70% CO2, 30% N2/70% CO2, 50% O2/50% N2, 30% O2/70% CO2, and 1.5 ml clove essential oil. The results showed that treatment of 30% N2/70% CO2 was associated with a lower pH value than control. The pH, drip loss, TBA, peroxide number, and fatty acid percentage values were significantly ( p < 0.05 ) increased as FSP rises. The effect of the MAP and muscle fiber index (MFI) was significantly different ( p < 0.05 ) by the FSP. A decrease in the drip loss during storage and cooking when samples were treated with a MAP of 15% O2/15% N2/70% CO2, 30% N2/70% CO2, and clove oil groups were noted. The lowest values of TBA, peroxide number, and fatty acid percentage were recorded using 15% O2/15% N2/70% CO2, 30% N2/70% CO2, and clove oil groups, respectively. There was an improvement in all sensory characteristics of all MAP and clove oil treatments.