Therefore, the decrease in a⁄ value of ground kernels measured in our study clearly indicates that the almond meat did not have any brownish color upon pasteurization and holding. According to Moss and Otten (1989) and Ozdemir and Devres (2000), roasting is preceded by an induction period during which L⁄ value increases due to initial lightning of meat color. Thus, the lack of change in L⁄ value of the almond meat following our infrared pasteurization process suggests that the kernels were not subjected to a roasting phase. However, the thermal treatments, applied either during infrared heating or holding period, changed the a⁄ and b⁄ values of almonds significantly (P < 0.05).