Contents: Factors affecting the growth and development of meat animals (cattle, sheep and pigs); The structure and growth of muscle; Chemical and biochemical constitution of muscle; The conversion of muscle to meat; The spoilage of meat by infecting organisms; The storage and preservation of meat (temperature and moisture control, and direct microbial inhibition); The eating quality of meat; meat and human nutrition; prefabricated meat.

Lawrie's Meat Science has established itself as a standard work for both students and professionals in the meat industry. Its basic theme remains the central importance of biochemistry in understanding the production, storage, processing and eating quality of meat. At a time when so much controversy surrounds meat production and nutrition, Lawrie's meat science, written by Lawrie in collaboration with Ledward, provides a clear guide which takes the reader from the growth and development of meat animals, through the conversion of muscle to meat, to the point of consumption.The seventh edition includes details of significant advances in meat science which have taken place in recent years, especially in areas of eating quality of meat and meat biochemistry. - A standard reference for the meat industry - Discusses the importance of biochemistry in production, storage and processing of meat - Includes significant advances in meat and meat biochemistry

Lawrie's Meat Science, Eighth Edition, provides a timely and thorough update to this key reference work, documenting significant advances in the meat industry, including storage and preservation of meat, the eating quality of meat, and meat safety. The book examines the growth and development of meat animals, from the conversion of muscle to meat and eventual point of consumption. This updated volume has been expanded to include chapters examining such areas as packaging and storage, meat tenderness, and meat safety. Furthermore, central issues such as the effects of meat on health and the nutritional value of meat are analyzed. Broadly split into four sections, the book opens with the fundamentals behind the growth of meat animals. The second section covers the storage and spoilage of meat products, with the third section exploring the eating quality of meat, from flavor to color. The final section reviews meat safety, authenticity, and the effect of meat on health. - Encompasses the recognized gold- standard reference for the meat industry - Brings together leading experts in each area, providing a complete overview of the meat sciences - Includes all the latest advances, bringing this new edition completely up-to-date, including developments in meat quality, safety, and storage

"This book contains over 300 offered papers in addition to 4 papers from invited speakers presented at the 52nd International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, held in Dublin, Ireland, from 13-18 August 2006. Under the theme of harnessing and exploiting global opportunities, areas covered in the congress included meat quality encompassing genomics and biotechnology, animal production and production systems, muscle biology and biochemistry; meat safety, meat processing and packaging technology, consumer topics and meat and health. A new approach this year was to address specific hot topics important to the industry and meat scientists, in particular, electrical stimulation and new instrumental methods for evaluation of meat quality characteristics. These proceedings reflect the truly global nature of meat research and give an insight into the current research issues for the industry."

Meat is both a major food in its own right and a staple ingredient in many food products. With its distinguished editors and an international team of contributors, Meat processing reviews research on what defines and determines meat quality, and how it can be maintained or improved during processing.Part one considers the various aspects of meat quality. There are chapters on what determines the quality of raw meat, changing views of the nutritional quality of meat and the factors determining such quality attributes as colour and flavour. Part two discusses how these aspects of quality are measured, beginning with the identification of appropriate quality indicators. It also includes chapters on both sensory analysis and instrumental methods including on-line monitoring and microbiological analysis. Part three reviews the range of processing techniques that have been deployed at various stages in the supply chain. Chapters include the use of modelling techniques to improve quality and productivity in beef cattle production, new decontamination techniques after slaughter, automation of carcass processing, high pressure processing of meat, developments in modified atmosphere packaging and chilling and freezing. There are also chapters on particular products such as restructured meat and fermented meat products.With its detailed and comprehensive coverage of what defines and determines meat quality, Meat processing is a standard reference for all those involved in the meat industry and meat research. - Reviews research on what defines and determines meat quality, and how it can be measured, maintained and improved during processing - Examines the range of processing techniques that have been deployed at various stages in the supply chain - Comprehensively outlines the new decontamination techniques after slaughter and automation of carcass processing

The safety of fresh meat continues to be a major concern for consumers. As a result, there has been a wealth of research on identifying and controlling hazards at all stages in the supply chain. Improving the Safety of Fresh Meat reviews this research and its implications for the meat industry. Part I discusses identifying and managing hazards on the farm. There are chapters on the prevalence and detection of pathogens and on chemical and other contaminants. A number of chapters also discuss ways of controlling such hazards in the farm environment. Part II of the book reviews the identification and control of hazards during and after slaughter. There are chapters on both contamination risks and how they can best be managed. The book also discusses the range of decontamination techniques available to meat processors as well as such areas as packaging and storage. With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Improving the Safety of Fresh Meat will be a standard reference for the meat industry.

As health problems such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes increase in many developed and developing countries, the food industry has come under mounting pressure to improve the nutritional quality of its products. Particular attention has focused on the health problems associated with saturated fats in food and on the potential health benefits of increasing monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat content. Summarising key research in this field, this important collection reviews both the influence of dietary fats on health and practical strategies for improving the fat content of food products.Part one reviews the evidence on the links between dietary fats and health. There are chapters on the links between saturated fatty acid intake, obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer, as well as the health benefits of monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs). Part two then discusses ways of reducing saturated fatty acids in food. It includes chapters on the role of lipids on food quality and ways of gaining consumer acceptance of low-fat foods, as well as chapters on improving fatty acid composition in dairy products and milk and the use of fat replacers. The final part of the book reviews ways of using polyunsaturated and other modified fatty acids in food products. It includes chapters on developing and using PUFAs as functional ingredients and ways of improving the sensory quality of products incorporating modified fats.With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Improving the fat content of foods is a standard reference for nutritionists and product developers in the food industry. - Reviews the influence of dietary fats on health - Investigates practical strategies for improving the fat content of food products - Discusses improving the fat content of foods whilst maintaining sensory quality