Concept
CIE Lab
Also known as CIELAB, L*a*b*, Lab colour space
The three-axis colour scale, lightness and two colour axes, used to measure meat colour objectively rather than by eye.
CIE Lab is the standard way to put a number on colour. It reads colour on three axes: L* for lightness from black to white, a* from green to red, and b* from blue to yellow. For cured meat it lets a maker track colour objectively, a rising a* as cure develops the red, a falling L* as a product dries and darkens, rather than relying on a subjective glance. It turns 'looks about right' into a measurement that can be logged and compared.