Among antioxidant compounds, ascorbic acid is used to prevent oxidative rancidity and improve colour stability of fresh or processed meat. It is a reducing agent, which inhibits myoglobin oxidation and brown colour development in non-irradiated beef (Sanchez-Escalante et al., 2001; Ahn and Nam, 2004). Ascorbic acid can act as antioxidant or pro-oxidant depending on its concentration, presence of metal ions and tocopherol content (Schaefer et al., 1995).