Marbling tends to get all of the praise and celebrity as it is a big contributor to the overall palatability of beef products; however, the lesser-known big factor in palatability is the physiological maturity of the beef carcass. And that's where our story begins.

Several studies have shown consumer overall acceptability was more highly correlated with flavor ratings than tenderness or juiciness, regardless of tenderness variation.

Top sirloin steaks are one of the most popular beef steaks served in restaurants (Harris et al., 1992), as well as purchased at retail outlets (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, 2005), across the United States.

The beef market has constantly been under the pressure of evolving consumer preferences for taste, consistency and health, to name a few.

Modified-atmosphere packaging containing 80% oxygen and 20% carbon dioxide (HiOx-MAP) is widely used in fresh beef at retail to delay discoloration and hold cherry-red color of beef for a longer time.