How to measure color of Meat

Color is a vital component that determines the perception of the overall quality of meat.

Understanding the changes in meat color under various conditions and implementing methods to measure color stability has become a finely tuned science and necessity in the meat marketing business.

Enter HunterLab – a pioneer in color measurement technology. Our state-of-the-art spectrophotometers provide quantitative standardization values, allowing producers to maintain product consistency and reduce wastage.

Why measure the color of meat?

The answer lies in safety and efficiency. The USDA mandates strict guidelines and identifying issues early in the production line is crucial. HunterLab’s objective color data helps you spot quality trends, prevent downtime, and make informed decisions.

Meat color can be a significant quality indicator and is mainly determined by myoglobin, the telltale red pigment. Since changes in meat color involve the concentration of myoglobin and its response to oxidization, it is essential to monitor color throughout production, as effects on color can vary throughout processing, packaging, and storage.

In the rigorous regulatory environment surrounding the meat processing industry, companies must implement the most stringent, efficient, and accurate quality control systems. Quality control failures can damage your bottom line via rework, recalls, and reputational damage. The integration of HunterLab spectrophotometers can reduce your margin of error by eliminating unreliable human factors.

With an easy-to-use modern interface and the latest data communications features, our best-in-class spectrophotometers reduce the time and labor necessary to evaluate color. Additionally, they come with color measurement software that can store and recall thousands of standards, all the color scales and indices you need, including CIE L*a*b*.

The data is displayed and stored digitally and can be fed into your Statistical Process Control (SPC) systems, facilitating more efficient workflows.  These features accelerate the quality control process by shrinking the time to measure multiple samples.    

How to measure color of meat?

Whether in a lab, plant, or on the go, HunterLab offers the best color measurement solutions for your unique needs, including benchtop and hand-held spectrophotometers.  

1. HunterLab Benchtop Spectrophotometer

HunterLab offers Aeros, the ONLY innovative non-contact benchtop spectrophotometer worldwide. Auto-height positioning enables color measurement with better accuracy and safety, simplifying sample presentation and clean up time.

With HunterLab Aeros, place the sample and hit measure - samples automatically rotate beneath the smart sensor - 5 seconds, 35 measurements, 27.5 square inches of sample. 

2. HunterLab Hand-held  Spectrophotometer 

The HunterLab MiniScan EZ is a handheld spectrophotometer with a large area of view. Available in Directional 45°/0° and Diffuse d/8° geometries. Point the HunterLab MiniScan EZ towards the sample, press the go button, and see the necessary measurements within seconds.

HunterLab always gives you the best value with:   

Consistently accurate results
The lowest total cost of ownership   
Lowest maintenance costs   
Lowest service costs   
Longest instrument lifespan   
And, of course, the worldwide customer service that we are famous for.   

For more technical information, contact info@hunterlab.com