Black pepper essential oil (BPEO) decreased TBARS and MetMb% values at 3, 6 and 9 days.
BPEO treatments have higher L* and a* and lower b* values than the control at 6 and 9 days.
BPEO has higher activity against Gram-negative bacteria than Gram-positive bacteria.
The inhibition of Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacteriaceae by BPEO was dose-dependant.