Won’t buy discolored meat? You might be adding to significant global waste.
January 7th, 2026 | Time to Read: 3-5 minutes
Research at Colorado State University reveals that meat discoloration, while often unrelated to safety or quality, causes nearly $4 billion in annual losses in the U.S. as consumers reject non-red beef. To address this, scientists are investigating alternative packaging and the link between bacteria and color to reduce the millions of pounds of meat wasted each year.
Center for Food Conservation & Waste Reduction
