Objective measurement of veal color for classification purposes

2300 veal calves were used to compare the ability of chromameters to measure the veal meat color on-line and to develop a relationship between instrumental and visual assessments to predict the color score according to the EC-system of classification. The meat color was assessed subjectively by 3 trained judges and objectively by 2 chromameters CR300 and CR310, 45 min post mortem on the Rectus abdominis, on the external side, skin having been removed. R-2 values reached 0.70 for the CR300 and 0.75 for the CR310. The equations of prediction classified correctly up to 87% of carcasses. These data indicate that chromameters (Minolta CR310 and CR300) can be used on-line to measure objectively veal meat color at the end of the slaughterline. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.