Thus, "corned" refers to the preservation method used on the beef. As for why canned corned beef looks so pink, the book "Processed Meats" (via Science Direct) explains that it's from the sodium ...

Though it may seem logical to assume that corned beef comes from Cornwall, the "corned" name actually refers to a completely different meaning.

Do you know that many Irish people had never tasted corned beef and cabbage, supposedly our most famous specialty? You have to understand, it was a recipe that emerged when the immigrants left ...