Exploring the relationship of colour categorization with pork colour standards under different subjective and objective conditions

Abstract

The impact of using incorrect lighting while subjectively scoring pork colour with subjective standards (Japanese, Canadian, and Kodak grey) was explored. Lightness was more important than a good colour match between standards and meat. Subjective and image-based automated scoring with Canadian standards were correlated at 0.71–0.77 (P < 0.001) with significant differences in scale distribution (D = 0.14–0.46; P < 0.002), primarily with moderately dark meat. Automated scoring on full colour and greyscale images were strongly related (r = 0.83, P < 0.001) and showed matching score distributions when whole scores were used. Tracking automated colour categorization during blooming showed very good potential for reliable categorization after 1 min exposure to air for most meat colours, indicating that reliable automated on-line sorting of pork for colour is easily within reach.