Luminance surface distribution measurements applied to assessing intramuscular fat content in meat

Measurements of surface luminance distribution have been applied as an innovative method for assessing intramuscular fat content in pork. A dedicated experimental setup has been developed to perform measurements with an LMK matrix luminance meter, based on a Canon camera and Sigma Gold lenses. A SINGLEPIC ALGORITHM incorporated into the meter has allowed us to convert RAW format images into luminance distribution images. Analysing the data obtained with a dedicated LMK LabSoft software, adapted to meet our research goals, allowed us to determine fat content with the luminance method. The Soxhlet chemical method has served as a reference. The experimental material consisted of 68 longissimus thoracis muscle samples. Under a comparative study the average intramuscular fat content in the tested samples was determined as 1.67% and 1.68% for the Soxhlet and luminance method, respectively. The correlation factor between both methods was equal to rho = 0.79, p < 0.001. The experimental results have met our expectations, and the luminance measurement method has been proven to be a reliable experimental tool for assessing intramuscular fat content, providing an alternative to the conventional Soxhlet approach.

Automated summary

The study showed that the luminance measurement method is a reliable experimental tool for assessing intramuscular fat content, with results consistent with the Soxhlet chemical method.