Discoloration of Fresh Pork as Related to Muscle and Display Conditions

Pale, soft, exudative (PSE), normal, and dark, firm, dry (DFD) pork was held 7 days at 4°C under light or dark then color was evaluated instrumentally and visually. Change in reflectance (R630-R580) was used to estimate color changes due to oxymyoglobin. PSE pork was lighter (high L*) than normal and DFD pork, but did not change over time. An increase in a* and R630-R580 occurred the first day for normal and DFD, but not for PSE samples. A subsequent increase in hue angle and decrease in R630-R580 (loss of redness) occurred in PSE and normal, but not in DFD samples. Changes in hue angle and R630-R580 were more rapid in PSE than in normal samples. Light exposure accelerated all changes except L*. Visual redness inversely correlated with L* value.