Myoglobin, a protein found in muscles ... the impact of these toxic chemicals on three proteins critical to human development called beta-lactoglobulin, or BLG, alpha-lactalbumin and myoglobin.

When oxygen encounters the meat, the iron in the myoglobin turns red, just as it does in rust on metal and in human blood. This blooming can happen relatively quickly — between 10 and 30 minutes ...