The Science of Meat Quality

Meat has been a long sought-after source of nutrients in human diets. Its nutrient-dense composition of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals makes it an integral part of healthy and balanced diets. As demand for meat continues to increase globally, a better understanding of efficiently producing quality meat products is becoming increasingly important. The Science of Meat Quality provides comprehensive coverage of meat quality from the biological basis of muscle development to end-product-use topics such as preparation and sensory analysis.

The Science of Meat Quality explores the basis of meat quality long before it hits grocery store shelves. The book opens with a look at cellular muscle tissue development, metabolism, and physiology. Subsequent chapters look at topics surrounding the development of tenderness, water-holding capacity, lipid oxidation, and color in meat products. The final chapters discuss producing a good-tasting end product from preparing meat to preventing food-borne illness. Each chapter contains not only the theory behind that topic, but also detailed lab methodologies for measuring each meat quality trait.

The Science of Meat Quality is an essential resource and reference for animal scientists, meat scientists, food scientists, and food industry personnel.

This book provides an in-depth study of the development of quality meat products, from the physiological processes that result in meat development through to final consumption of meat products. Each chapter opens with theoretical foundations to meat science practices alongside methodologies for measuring quality in relation to specific aspects of meat. Providing the necessary tools to interpret information gleaned from quality experimentation, this book is an essential purchase for all animal and meat scientists concerned with the production of quality meat products.

The Science of Meat Quality looks at the development of quality meat products from the physiological processes that result in meat development through to final consumption of meat products. Each chapter opens with theoretical foundations to meat science practices alongside methodologies for measuring quality in relation specific aspects of meat and also provides the necessary tools to interpreting information gleaned from quality experimentation. The Science of Meat Quality will be an essential purchase for all animal and meat scientists concerned with the production of quality meat products.

Christopher Kerth is an Associate Professor of Animal Sciences at Auburn University in Alabama.

Chapter 1 – Muscle Cell Growth
Chapter 2 – Animal growth and empty body composition
Chapter 3 – Micro-anatomy and myofibrillar proteins
Chapter 4 – Muscle metabolism and contraction
Chapter 5 – Converting muscle to meat
Chapter 6 – Meat tenderness
Chapter 7 – Water-holding capacity
Chapter 8 – Lipids and lipid oxidation
Chapter 9 – Meat color
Chapter 10 – Meat cookery
Chapter 11 – Trained sensory panels
Chapter 12 – Untrained sensory panels
Chapter 13 – Consumer sensory panels
Chapter 14 – Preventing food borne illness