Case-ready meat

Case-ready meat is cut and packaged at central regional facilities and sent to retail stores ready for placement in refrigerated display cases.

Local butchering, cutting, trimming, and overwrapping the meat at retail stores is greatly reduced.

Packaging includes tray,[4] absorbent pad (meat diaper), specialty plastic films,[5] etc.

Oxygen scavengers and modified atmosphere packaging are used to keep the products visually appealing and consumer safe.

[6] [7] Control of temperature during the distribution cold chain is critical to meat quality and safety.