Meat Science 147 (2019) 162–165

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Meat Science
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/meatsci

A comparison of the Nix Colour Sensor Pro™ and HunterLab MiniScan™ T

colorimetric instruments when assessing aged beef colour stability over 72 h
display
⁎
Benjamin W.B. Holman, David L. Hopkins
Centre for Red Meat and Sheep Development, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Cowra, NSW 2794, Australia

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: We compared the capacity for the Nix Colour Sensor Pro™ (NIX) and HunterLab MiniScan™ (HUNTER) to detect
Colour colour variation using aged (0, 3 and 5 weeks) and then displayed (0, 1, 2 and 3 d) beef M. longissimus lumborum
Instrument comparison samples (n = 8). NIX L* and hue values were found to be respectively higher and lower than for the HUNTER. No
Hunter Lab significant interactions between instrument and display or ageing periods were identified for a* – unlike for b*
Nix Colour Sensor
and chroma where NIX measures were observed to be lower than those from the HUNTER. Both instruments
Beef
identified ageing and display period effects on colorimetric traits. Based on these results, the NIX cannot be
considered comparable to the HUNTER when measuring beef colour – albeit captured similar colorimetric trends
over display and ageing periods which suggest its independent usefulness to beef colour assessment.

1. Introduction Furthermore, Stevenson, Weatherall, Littlejohn, and Seman (1991)

Consumers will often base their perception of beef freshness on its
colour and doing so, preferentially purchase beef that presents a bright
red appearance. Meat scientists and industry are aware of this beha-
viour and have focused much effort on optimising beef colour appeal
and endurance (stability) throughout retail display (Suman, Hunt, Nair,
& Rentfrow, 2014). Colorimetric instruments have been applied to
objectively measure meat colour and can provide this information as
CIE colour coordinates (L*, a*, b*) (CIE, 1978). The HunterLab Min-
iScan™ (HUNTER) is a common colorimetric instrument with a history
of use to quantify beef colour (Tapp, Yancey, & Apple, 2011). The Nix
Colour Sensor Pro™ (NIX) has, at present, less of a background in meat
colour measurement, but has garnered interest because of its relative
cheapness, connectivity and user-friendly interface (Hodgen, 2016;
Stiglitz, Mikhailova, Post, Schlautman, & Sharp, 2016).
Previous research has compared colorimeters and spectro-
photometers in terms of their abilities to quantify meat colour. For
example, the Brewer, Zhu, Bidner, Meisinger, and McKeith (2001) and
Brewer, Novakofski, and Freise (2006) studies both found significant
differences between pork colorimetrics measured using the HUNTER
and Minolta CR300 instruments, even when the same Illuminant and
standard observer settings were used. Holman, Ponnampalam, van de
Ven, Kerr, and Hopkins (2015) identified variance between HUNTER
models (45/0-L and 45/0-S) when measuring lamb colour.
found venison colour values varied between HUNTER 6000 and Min-
olta CR200b instruments. A basis for these variations and incon-
sistencies between instruments could stem from the availability of
guidelines that prescribe an optimised method. HUNTER, together with
more general protocols, have instructions available that outline their
use in meat evaluation (AMSA, 2012; Honikel, 1998; HunterLab, 2012).
Recently, NIX measurement recommendations have been outlined –
namely, the necessity for seven technical replicate readings to minimise
variance (Holman, Collins, Kilgannon, & Hopkins, 2018). Consequently,
the capacity for the NIX and HUNTER instruments to detect colour
variation can and must be compared so as to avoid misinterpretation
when assessing their colorimetric measurements. In this study, we
aimed to address this paucity; using aged beef and measuring colour
stability over 3 d of retail display.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Experimental design
A total of eight M. longissimus lumborum (LL) from grass-fed steer
carcasses were randomly selected from the boning room of a colla-
borating Australian abattoir at 24 h post-mortem. These eight LL were
each divided into six equal portions that were assigned to one of three
ageing period (0, 3 and 5 weeks) in duplicate, so that two portions from

⁎
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: david.hopkins@dpi.nsw.gov.au (D.L. Hopkins).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.09.009
Received 17 May 2018; Received in revised form 12 September 2018; Accepted 12 September 2018
Available online 14 September 2018
0309-1740/ Crown Copyright © 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
B.W.B. Holman, D.L. Hopkins Meat Science 147 (2019) 162–165

each LL were represented within each ageing period. Ageing was ap- Table 1
plied at the Centre for Red Meat and Sheep Development (Cowra, New Predicted means ( ± standard error; s.e.) for L* and hue according to instru-
South Wales, AUS) with samples held at 2.0 ± 0.7 °C (mean ± ment, ageing and display periods.1
standard deviation). From each sample, a slice (thickness: 3.0–4.0 cm) Instrument
was then removed and placed on individual black Styrofoam trays
(dimensions: 13.5 cm × 13.5 cm) so that the muscle fibres on its ex- Trait HUNTER NIX s.e.
L* 39.6a 40.4b 0.45
posure surface had a perpendicular orientation. These were over-
Hue 0.66a 0.60b 0.005
wrapped with PVC food film (thickness: 15.0 μm) and allowed to bloom
Ageing period (weeks)
for 30–40 min and at 2–3 °C before being measured (0 d) in situ and
0 3 5 s.e.
using each of the two different instrument types. Repeat measures were L* 36.0a 42.5b 41.5b 0.53
taken at daily display intervals (total: 4, 0–3 days) between which Hue 0.61a 0.62b 0.66c 0.008
samples were held under continuous fluorescent lighting (NEC Tubes Display period (d)
58 W delivering approximately 1000 lx to the sample surface, verified 0 1 2 3 s.e.
using a handheld lux meter) and at 3–4 °C. L* 39.1a 40.4b 40.2b 40.3b 0.47
Hue 0.61a 0.62b 0.65b 0.65b 0.005

2.2. Colorimetric assessment 1

The NIX (aperture: 15 mm; Pro Colour Sensor™, Nix Sensor Ltd.,
Ontario, CAN) and HUNTERLAB (aperture: 25 mm; Model 45/0,
HunterLab Associates Laboratory Inc., Hong Kong, PRC) were both set
to Illuminant D65 and 10° standard observer. The HUNTERLAB was
calibrated using black and white tiles (X = 80.4. Y = 85.3, Z = 91.5),
whereas this option was not applicable for the NIX – therefore, two NIX
instruments were used at random throughout each display interval so as
to account for device variation. Each sample surface was then measured
with the NIX recording seven replicate measures (Holman et al., 2018)
and the HUNTERLAB, four (HunterLab, 2012). Instruments were re-
positioned after each measure with care to avoid connective tissue and
fat deposits, and ensure complete aperture coverage. Data from both
instruments was then reported as average colorimetric values (L*, a*,
b*, hue and chroma) (AMSA, 2012).
2.3. Statistical analysis
A linear mixed model (Genstat 19th Edition, VSN International Ltd.,
www.vsni.co.uk) was applied to analyse the data with instrument,
ageing period and display period and all relevant second order inter-
actions included as fixed effects, along with LL and portion within LL
included as random effects. Differences between predicted means were
judged to be significant if they were at least two times the average
standard error of the difference (SED).
3. Results
For all colour traits, except a* there was a difference (P < 0.001)
between instruments. There was no significant interaction between
instrument and either ageing period or display period for L* or hue, but
there were main effects due to instrument, ageing and display period
(P < 0.001, Table 1). For the NIX, the L* and hue values were re-
spectively higher and lower than for the HUNTER. L* values increased
after 3 weeks ageing; and this same colorimetric value was found to
peak at 1 d display and thereafter plateaued. Changes in hue with
ageing period showed an increase and, akin to L* values, there was no
increase in hue beyond 1 d display. There was a difference (P < 0.001)
between instruments for b* and chroma values (P < 0.001), such that
NIX values were lower than their HUNTER counterparts. For the col-
orimetrics (a*, b*, chroma), there were significant interactions
(P < 0.05; Table 2). The interaction effects (P < 0.001) were such
that a* values peaked at 1 d display period when measured with the
HUNTER and irrespective of ageing period, whereas this did not occur
with the NIX, when the values instead demonstrated a steady decline as
the display period increased. These a* values did decrease with ageing,
irrespective of the instrument (P < 0.001) and after 1 d display and
5 weeks of ageing we found no difference between instruments. Like-
wise, b* values also peaked at 1 d display, irrespective of ageing period
when measured with the HUNTER – an outcome not shared by the NIX
Means within rows with differing superscripts are significantly (P < 0.05)
different.
measures (Table 2). Again, there was a decline in b* values with ageing
(P < 0.001), but there was still a difference in values for meat aged for
5 weeks and displayed for 3 days between the two instruments. Fur-
thermore, chroma values for the HUNTER showed a peak at 1 d display
irrespective of ageing period, in a similar pattern to a* values, with no
such peak for the NIX (Table 2). Chroma values declined with ageing
period (P < 0.001) with greater absolute change in HUNTER values
than those obtained with the NIX. After 3 weeks of ageing there were no
differences between instruments if the beef was displayed for > 1 d.
4. Discussion
We observed that the HUNTER and NIX both capture colour trends
typical to aged and displayed beef. Characteristically this involves the
discolouration, browning and darkening of beef as ageing and/or dis-
play time increases, due to myoglobin oxidation and the accumulation
of metmyoglobin (Suman et al., 2014). Past research using a variety of
colorimetric instruments have reported similar outcomes, including
HUNTER (Holman, Coombs, Morris, Kerr, & Hopkins, 2017a), Minolta
colorimeter (Pouzo, Descalzo, Zaritzky, Rossetti, & Pavan, 2016), and
Pantone X-RITE spectrophotometer (Li et al., 2012).
Generally, HUNTER colorimetric values were higher than their NIX
equivalent. This could have important implications when comparing
colour results between studies – for example, Holman, van de Ven, Mao,
Coombs, & Hopkins (2017b) consumer threshold (a* ≥ 14.5) for ac-
ceptable beef colour was defined using a HUNTER and, based on the
present findings, should not be used to interpret NIX results. A possible
basis for this disparity may be the larger aperture size of the HUNTER
inferring a comparatively greater susceptibility to edge-losses – which
can be defined as when sample:aperture coverage is (accidentally) in-
complete and light that would be reflected is instead lost, and con-
sidered absorbed (Holman et al., 2015). This larger aperture would also
inhibit the efficacy by which HUNTER placement can avoid fatty de-
posits within the measured surface. These would, in turn, infer greater
reflectance than otherwise and doing so could boost lightness (L*),
brightness (chroma) and colour intensity (hue) measures – as observed.
Building on this theme, grass-fed beef was used in this study and this
normally contains higher beta-carotene levels than grain-fed beef,
which is partitioned to and produces a yellower fat colour (Dunne,
Monahan, O'Mara, & Moloney, 2009). This in combination with the
unavoidable measurement of fat deposits could, therefore, act as a
possible source for the HUNTER b* value differences to those measured
with the NIX.
An alternative basis for instrument differences could involve their
respective calibration protocols. The NIX operates via ‘software cali-
bration’ (Nix Sensor Ltd., 2018) whereas the HUNTER is calibrated
using reference tiles (HunterLab, 2012). In practise, this would translate

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B.W.B. Holman, D.L. Hopkins Meat Science 147 (2019) 162–165

Table 2
Predicted means ( ± standard error; s.e.) for a*, b* and chroma according to the interaction of instrument, ageing period and display period.1
Instrument Display period (d) Ageing period (weeks)

a* b* Chroma

0 3 5 s.e. 0 3 5 s.e. 0 3 5 s.e.

HUNTER 0 22.7avw 15.8bvw 13.6cvw 0.66 16.9avw 11.5bvw 10.5c 0.41 28.3av 19.5bvwyz 17.2cvwxy 0.76
1 23.9av 16.9bvw 14.7cv 17.7av 12.3bv 11.3cv 29.7av 20.9bvxy 18.5cv
2 22.0avw 15.0bwx 12.8cwxz 17.2avw 11.8bvw 10.7bvw 27.9aw 19.1bwyz 16.7cwxy
3 21.0awx 14.1byz 11.8cxy 16.4aw 11.0bwxz 10.0bwx 26.7awx 17.9bwz 15.5cwyz

NIX 0 22.6avw 18.4by 14.7cv 0.66 14.2ax 11.8bvw 10.2cwx 0.41 26.7awx 21.8bx 17.9cxv 0.76
1 21.1avwx 16.9bvw 13.2cvw 13.7axy 11.2bwx 9.7cx 25.1axy 20.3bvy 16.4cxyz
2 20.2azy 16.0bvx 12.3czw 13.2ayz 10.8bxy 9.2cyz 24.2ayz 19.3bwyz 15.4cyz
3 19.5az 15.3bxz 11.7cz 12.7az 10.2byz 8.7cz 23.3az 18.5bz 14.6cz

1
Colorimetric means within rows with differing superscripts (a, b, c) are significantly (P < 0.05) different. Colorimetric means within columns with differing
superscripts (v, w, x, y, z) are significantly (P < 0.05) different.

to precision differences that could be expressed as the differing mag- Acknowledgements

nitudes and consistencies of colorimetrics across display and ageing
periods. As such, here we found instrumental differences were not
standard across these periods.
Examples of instrumental inconsistences include the tendency for
HUNTER and NIX colorimetric differences to decrease parallel to ageing
period increase, and display period increases provided beef is first aged.
Furthermore, there was a ‘peak’ observed at 1 d display with the
HUNTER, but not the NIX. This latter insight has been previously
identified and akin to our thoughts, is likely due to incomplete
blooming before the initial measure and this resulting in subsequent
colour stabilisation (Coombs, Holman, van de Ven, Friend, & Hopkins,
2016; Holman et al., 2017a). This does pose the question as to why this
event was not observed in the NIX. A potential response involves the
light source and level applied by either instrument in colorimetric de-
termination. The HUNTER applies more light per reading, because of its
large aperture size and Xenon light source, and could therefore pene-
trate further into the sample than the light emitting diode (led) light
source and small aperture size of the NIX would permit. In turn, this
could impact the sub-surface and deoxymyoglobin contributions to
colorimetric values (Mancini & Hunt, 2005). The convergence of in-
strument colorimetrics across ageing and display period could instead
result from muscle fibre degradation and the expansion of inter-myo-
fibrillar space. As a consequence, light applied by the HUNTER is po-
tentially more scattered or lost as sidewards-diffraction within the beef
substrate than that applied by the NIX. This light is therefore not re-
captured as reflectance as degradation progresses (Hughes, Clarke,
Purchas, & Warner, 2017; Xia, Weaver, Gerrard, & Yao, 2008) and
could act to compensate against instrument differences observed on
unaged samples.
5. Conclusion
From these results, we conclude that the NIX is a viable colorimeter
for detecting beef colour variation, but to a lesser degree and not
comparable to HUNTER measures. This was demonstrated with the
failure of the NIX to capture the colorimetric ‘peak’ that the HUNTER
observed at 1 d display period which itself merits future investigation.
Considering the NIX was developed for paint, colour swatch and other
homogeneous material appraisal, we acknowledge its potential and
suggest future versions include larger apertures, comparable light
source, and calibration standards to become comparable to the
HUNTER when evaluating beef colour.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
We are grateful for the financial support provided to the first author
(B. W. B. Holman) as a receipt of the Australian Meat Processors
Corporation Award at the Australian Federal Department of Agriculture
and Water Resources, 2017 Science and Innovation Awards for Young
People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. We also acknowledge the
support from NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) staff,
Douglas R.G. Silva (UFLA) and our commercial industry collaborators.
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