Fresh and processed meats offer numerous nutritional and health benefits and provide unique eating satisfaction
in the lifestyle of the modern society. However, consumption of red meat including processed products is subjected
to increasing scrutiny due to the health risks associated with cytotoxins that potentially could be generated
during meat preparation. Evidence from recent studies suggests free radical pathways as a plausible mechanism
for toxin formation, and antioxidants have shown promise to mitigate process-generated chemical hazards. The
present review discusses the involvements of lipid and protein oxidation in meat quality, nutrition, safety, and
organoleptic properties; animal production and meat processing strategies which incorporate natural antioxidants
to enhance the nutritional and health benefits of meat; and the application of mixed or purified natural antioxidants
to eliminate or minimize the formation of carcinogens for chemical safety of cooked and processed
meats