What Meat Color Can and Cannot Tell You at the Supermarket

The bright red steak displayed in a supermarket may look especially fresh, but color alone cannot tell you whether meat is safe or of good quality. Before buying your next package, it is important to understand how packaging, oxygen, storage, and marketing influence what you see.

Meat is often one of the more expensive items on a family’s shopping list. Whether buying beef, chicken, or pork, consumers naturally want fresh, safe products that offer good value. Yet many shoppers make their decisions within seconds, relying mainly on appearance, price, and attractive packaging.

One common misconception is that bright red beef is always fresher than darker meat. In reality, beef gets much of its natural color from a protein called myoglobin, which changes appearance depending on its exposure to oxygen…………………CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE