Differentiation between fresh beef and thawed frozen beef

In order to prevent meat retailers offering thawed, imported frozen beef as fresh domestic beef, the method of Gottesmann and Hamm for differentiating between fresh and frozen/thawed meat is recommended. The principle of this method is based on the fact that freezing and thawing of meat results in a release of the enzyme β-hydroxyacyl CoA-dehydrogenase (HADH) from the mitochondrion into the sarcoplasm; an elevated HADH activity in the muscle press-juice indicates freezing and thawing of tissue. The HADH colour test of Gottesmann and Hamm was modified by replacing the electron-transmitter meldolablue by resazurin which results in a much higher colour stability after reaction with fresh meat extracts.