found that pH values showed differences (Pb0.05) due to storage time and storage conditions, in ostrich steaks of initial pH 6.04±0.10. A pH above 6.0 was also found for ostrich carcasses 2–6 h after bleeding (Sales & Horbanczuk, 1998). Berge, Lepetit, Renerre, and Touraille (1997) reported that depletion of glycogen reserves following ante-mortem stress in ratites might be the major reason for the relatively high pH values compared to other meats. The highest decreases were found in 1:1 headspace packaged samples, in accordance with their higher counts of lactic acid bacteria. Meat pH can be affected by many factors; however, growth of lactic acid bacteria resulting in lactic acid production is the major factor causing pH decreases in packaged meats (Gill, 1996). Lower pH values at 10 days were found in the air and N2 packaged samples which would support lactic acid bacteria outgrowth. Similarly, Coventry et al. (1998) reported that steaks in O2–CO2 atmospheres showed a relatively constant pH (5.5–5.6) compared with those in N2–CO2 atmospheres stored at 4 °C which exhibited significant (Pb0.01) decreases in pH (b5.0 after 2– 6 weeks).