Product yield and color of fresh beef transported at different refrigerated temperatures

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of environmental temperature during striploin and sirloin transport on moisture loss, color, and tenderness. Cases of striploins (n = 24) and sirloins (n = 24) were alternately placed on two pallets. Each pallet was placed on a refrigerated truck pre-chilled to -2.2°C (-2.2FT) or 3.3°C (3.3FT) and product was transported for 12 h prior to arriving at the South Dakota State University Meat Laboratory. One subprimal was subset from each case for further analysis. Subprimal purge loss was measured prior to fabrication into eight 2.54cm steaks. Steaks were overwrapped and packaged in modified atmosphere packaging prior to a second transport. Four steaks from each subprimal were placed on one of two pallets. Each pallet was placed on a pre-chilled refrigerated truck set at -2.2°C or 3.3°C. The steaks were transported for 12 h prior to returning to the Meat Laboratory. Steaks were utilized for the evaluation of color, cook loss, purge loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF). Subprimal purge loss was increased for 3.3FT sirloins compared to -2.2FT (P = 0.0362). L* values for -2.2FT strip steaks were increased (P < 0.0001) and purge loss decreased (P = 0.0188) compared to 3.3FT steaks. L* values and fresh steak purge loss for 3.3FT sirloins were increased (P = 0.0356 and P = 0.0460 respectively) compared to -2.2FT steaks. These data indicate varied responses to temperature differences based on subprimal. Thus, a universal recommendation for all meat products could not be made and further investigation into the impacts of transportation temperatures on various meat products is vital to optimization of the meat supply chain.