Using LED Lighting In Refrigerated Retail Meat Displays Could Save Industry Millions

U.S. researchers have discovered that use of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting in grocery store meat refrigeration units extends the “color shelf life” of some beef products, saving the retail meat industry millions of dollars a year. In addition, the LED lights save money by lowering the operating costs of refrigerated cases. The color of fresh meat changes during refrigerated display because of its natural chemistry and exposure to oxygen. Customers often reject meat when it loses its fresh-looking red color. Discolored meat products must either be discounted or discarded, which costs the meat industry up to a billion dollars each year.