Carbon monoxide and an ammonia-based pH increasing material are both applied to a highly comminuted meat product. The carbon monoxide and ammonia-based pH increasing material may be applied by sparging the materials into the highly comminuted meat product through a suitable sparging device. The carbon monoxide may be applied to the highly comminuted meat product separately from the ammonia-based pH increasing material, or the two materials may be combined and applied to the highly comminuted meat product together. When applied separately, the carbon monoxide and ammonia-based pH increasing materials may be applied to the meat product through a multi-stage sparging device. Also, when the treatment materials are applied separately either material may be applied first followed by application of the other material.