Pseudomonas-driven spoilage and identification of early-warning volatile markers in chilled Shimen Sanhuang chicken

This study investigated the spoilage mechanism of chilled Shimen Sanhuang chicken breast, a national geographical indication product from China, during 8 days of refrigerated storage at 4 °C. Integrated analysis revealed progressive quality deterioration, characterized by texture softening, increased pH, and intensified protein and lipid oxidation. Microbial succession analysis identified Pseudomonas as the specific spoilage organism, its relative abundance surging from 18.37% to 61.74%. Volatile profiling identified 83 compounds, and OPLS-DA screened key differential volatiles. Correlation analysis established significant positive correlations between Pseudomonas and spoilage-related volatiles like indole. Furthermore, indole and 1-octen-3-ol were strongly correlated with pivotal spoilage indicators, including protein carbonyls, TBARS, TVC, and the BAI. These findings systematically delineate the spoilage pattern of chilled Shimen chicken, proposing Pseudomonas as the core spoiler and nominating indole and 1-octen-3-ol as potential early-warning markers for quality deterioration, providing a theoretical basis for targeted preservation of premium chilled poultry. • Pseudomonas identified as the dominant spoiler in chilled Shimen Sanhuang chicken. • Indole and 1-octen-3-ol proposed as early-warning volatile markers for spoilage. • Integrated multi-omics reveals links between microbial succession and quality loss. • Findings support targeted preservation strategies for premium chilled poultry.