Texas man buys fajita beef. Then he looks at it in the sunlight—and notices something strange

A TikTok video showing a piece of cooked fajita beef with a rainbow-like sheen left viewers divided. Some viewers were convinced it signaled spoilage. Others thought the meat was perfectly safe to eat.

TikTok creator Phantom.956 (@phantom.956) posted a video with more than 344,500 views. In it, he questioned fajitas that he reportedly purchased from Zarah's Meat Market in McAllen, Texas.

Did the meat really look like a rainbow?

In the short video, the creator removed the lid from a pot containing cooked beef and picked up a strip of meat. He pointed out an iridescent, rainbow-colored sheen visible across the surface.

The creator appeared skeptical about the appearance and implied that something may be wrong with the meat.

Is rainbow meat safe to eat?

Food scientists say a rainbow or iridescent appearance on cooked or sliced beef is usually a harmless optical effect.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, meat contains iron, fat, and water arranged in microscopic structures. When light strikes freshly cut muscle fibers at certain angles, those structures can refract or diffract light. This creates an iridescent, rainbow-like appearance.

The USDA says iridescence by itself is not a sign that meat has spoiled. Instead, consumers should look for more reliable indicators such as a sour odor, a sticky or slimy texture, or visible mold.

What did viewers think?

Many commenters were quick to reassure the creator that the colorful sheen is a well-known phenomenon.

“It's a rainbow shine on meat,” one user wrote. “It's usually caused by light reflecting off the muscle fibers.”

Other viewers claimed even though they had similar meat before, the cost did not deter them from eating it.

“I have seen that many times and still ate it. Fajita is too expensive nowadays to throw away,” added another.

Not everyone agreed.

“That's bacteria. I would not eat that,” a TikToker commented.

Some took the opportunity to make it into a joke.

“It's dragon meat!” one viewer mused.

“It's unicorn meat,” another quipped.

Why does rainbow meat keep going viral?

Photos and videos of iridescent roast beef, brisket, steaks, and deli meat regularly go viral as people question whether the unusual sheen means the meat has spoiled.

Reddit posts asking whether “rainbow beef” is safe have received hundreds of upvotes and comments over the years, showing how common the concern is. 

Similar discussions frequently appear across TikTok, Facebook, and other social media platforms whenever someone shares a photo or video of iridescent meat. However, food safety experts have explained that iridescence alone is not considered evidence that meat has gone bad. Instead, they recommend checking for reliable signs of spoilage, such as a sour odor, a slimy texture, mold, or improper storage.

@phantom.956 The fajita we bought from Sarah's meat market in McAllen had a rainbow shimmer to it, I personally have never seen this before, have you and did you eat it? #rgv956 ♬ original sound – phantom.956

What did Zarah's Meat Market say?

In a statement to Buzz News, a representative from Zarah's Meat Market echoed the USDA's guidance. They agreed that the iridescent sheen is a natural occurrence they occasionally see on freshly sliced whole-muscle cuts, particularly roast beef and deli meats. Like other experts, they added that the rainbow appearance alone is not a sign of spoilage and that shoppers should instead watch for warning signs such as an off odor, a sticky or slimy texture, damaged packaging, or improper storage.

Buzz News has also reached out to the creator via TikTok direct message.