Lawrie’s Meat Science

Three faculty members in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University provided chapters to the newly revised, Lawrie’s Meat Science, Eighth edition. Rhonda Miller, Kerri Gehring, and Jeff Savell each wrote chapters working with Dr. Fidel Toldrá, the editor of this edition, to complete the publication process.

Professor Ralston Lawrie was a world-renown meat scientist and wrote multiple editions of “Meat Science” during his life. The first edition was published in 1966, and eventually editions were published in at least Spanish, German, Japanese, and Russian languages. After his death, his work continues on with the publishing of “Lawrie’s Meat Science.”

Authors and chapters

Miller, R. K. 2017. The Eating Quality of Meat: V–Sensory Evaluation of Meat. In:  Lawrie’s Meat Science. 8th. Woodhead Publishing Series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition, Duxford, United Kingdom. p. 461-499.

Gehring, K. B. 2017. Meat and Health. In: F. Toldrá, editor, Lawrie’s Meat Science. 8th ed. Woodhead Publishing Series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition, Duxford, United Kingdom. p. 661-678.

Savell, J. W. 2017. Introduction. In: F. Toldrá, editor, Lawrie’s Meat Science. 8th ed. Woodhead Publishing Series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition, Duxford, United Kingdom. p. 1-18.

Description of the book from the publisher

Lawrie’s Meat Science, Eighth Edition, provides a timely and thorough update to this key reference work, documenting significant advances in the meat industry, including storage and preservation of meat, the eating quality of meat, and meat safety.

The book examines the growth and development of meat animals, from the conversion of muscle to meat and eventual point of consumption. This updated volume has been expanded to include chapters examining such areas as packaging and storage, meat tenderness, and meat safety. Furthermore, central issues such as the effects of meat on health and the nutritional value of meat are analyzed.

Broadly split into four sections, the book opens with the fundamentals behind the growth of meat animals. The second section covers the storage and spoilage of meat products, with the third section exploring the eating quality of meat, from flavor to color. The final section reviews meat safety, authenticity, and the effect of meat on health.