Don't Judge Meat by Color

[MoneyHoney]

Red meat doesn't necessarily mean fresh meat. Some supermarkets are selling ground beef & steaks packed with carbon monoxide and other gases. The process, which replaces most of the oxygen during packaging, keeps meat looking red longer. And the meat may not really be as fresh as it appears.
I've noticed this when shopping for large packages of ground beef at discount grocers. Interesting article on this topic in the July 2006 isssue of Consumer Reports. Also available on their web site @ www.consumerreports.org.

[boefixepa]

Get mine straight from a local butcher. Sometimes it's less than 24 hours from mooing to my freezer....granted sometimes it sits in my freezer too long......

I don't do the supermarket mainly because I buy bulk and the cost of repackaging in such a way that it keeps is near impossible. The local butcher is a friend and will not charge me anymore to package in 1/2 lbs vacuum packed items than larger packings....plus I get all the scrap bones I want for .20 a lbs for the dogs....best dental cleaning around and they love it! Overall it's much cheeper than even Wal-mart!!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

In many supermarkets light bulbs which impart a redder color are installed over the meat refrigerators, actually as part of the refrigerators. Pick up a pack of meat under the lights, then walk a few feet away to see how the color changes slightly as you return to the general lighting in the store. Of course stores are usually lit by fluorescent bulbs which impart a greenish cast, so that tends to make meats loook less red. However, stores are changing the kinds of lighting they use. Look up sometime and see what is there. At the bulbs you can often see a definite color glow.

[boomeyers]

They just did an a news story on this in our area and listed the stores that do this process. It is not illegal to do and they SAY it will not hurt you, but you sure have to be aware of spoiled meat. I try only to buy from the stores that do not do it.

[PrincessPerky]

So where do you find a local butcher? or farmer, or hunter, I am not picky, I am just to carnivour to give up meat, but hte whole, err stuff being added kindof turns my stumach.

[MoneyHoney]

Kroger & Publix are 2 supermarket chains which refuse to carry meat packaged with the carbon dioxide process (also called factory wrapped or case-ready meat). If you shop at other stores, you'll have to ask.

[boefixepa]

To find a local butcher look up meat processing in the phone book. They will generally be the people that will butcher game meat for the hunters who don't want to do it themselves. Or you could try calling a slaughter house and ask them if they know of one. They are a dying breed thanks to chain stores and the such. I was lucky enough to happen upon one and am close enough to areas that were once very rural that they still haven't died out yet. You'll have to do some digging and if they don't sell straight to the public you may have to buy in bulk to get the food, but to be it would still be worth it....even if I had to buy a freezer. Like you, PP, I'm not comfortable no knowing where my meat came from.

[boefixepa]

PS...don't bug them between sept. to nov. they are working their butts off to get all the game meat processed and don't have the patience to deal with questions and stuff. Just an FYI thing.