Ensuring the quality of meat in cold chain logistics: A comprehensive review

Meat packaging and intelligent evaluation and monitoring of key parameters not only are important technologies to ensure meat quality and safety but also form the key foundation for optimizing packaging materials and improving the efficiency of cold chain operations. In recent years, numerous studies have focused on comprehensive (or multi-functional) packaging materials, multiple parameter evaluation methods, quality intelligent monitoring technology, and optimization of the control of various links in cold chain logistics (CCL). Such research has significant practical application value for extending meat shelf-life and reducing the risk of foodborne diseases. This paper reviews the current research status, existing problems, and future evolution of CCL by focusing on meat packaging, meat quality evaluation and monitoring, and meat quality prediction and control. We also elaborate in detail the challenges faced in researching these topics and discuss the focal points of future research aiming to improve the quality and efficiency of CCL. Packaging material optimization and dynamic quality perception are vital for achieving meat quality and safety over the entire CCL and demand the digital and intelligent development of the meat cold chain. A key finding of this review is that the comprehensive (or composite) packaging and intelligent quality assessment and monitoring are important forces promoting the transformation of traditional meat CCL to smart, green, and efficient CLL involving the intelligent management and control of all links therein.