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Meat labelling: how to choose?

When we go to the store or the supermarket to buy custom Don't pay attention to food labels. However, it is increasingly common for people to pay attention to the details of the food they are going to buy. We tell you everything about this topic and what you should do to buy well.

Garzon's controversy

A few months ago, a statement from the minister Alberto Garzon on quality of the meat and the Spanish livestock model, caused a great deal of dust. His words put at the center of the debate a very interesting topic about what we really buy and eat. It is true that Garzón's words were taken out of context, since the Minister of Consumption focused his criticism on the type of livestock and not on the product that was consumed.

As a result of these words, a person, in tune with the politician from Malaga, launched an interesting request through the digital platform Change.org Through this writing, this man demanded that the labeling of the meat collect the type of livestock from which the food came. And it is that meat is not the same macro farm than the one that comes from an animal that treads green.

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Labeling of a meat tray in which each piece of information is detailed. / Source: 3tres3.com

Confusing labeling regulations

Currently, the citizen cannot know the origin of the meat except in some exceptions. In the European Union it is mandatory to indicate the country of origin of all the fresh meat that is put up for sale in the common market. In other words, you can only know by law the information of the State from which the animal comes, the sacrifice and cutting.

Viewed another way, the information on the region and the exploitation model to which the animals have been subjected are not specified on the labeling. The only thing established by European Community regulations is that it is necessary to record the information. This is only found available in official documents governmental.

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Beef minced meat platter. /Source: Gastronomy and company – Republica.com

How to know the origin of the meat

If the meat is certified you can know its origin. It is more and more normal to see quality certificates, especially in the particular field, in meat products. Spain is a country rich in meat certifications, which aim to guarantee that these foods meet certain Specific conditions.

Having a certified meat provides the fullfilment of security requirements to know that the quality controls are exhaustive. Above all, it is necessary to highlight the exams that are carried out to assess the health care and the quality of cattle feed. When you go to the butcher shop and check that the labeling contains a stamp of Protected Geographical Indication, you will know in detail all the information about the product.

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A veterinarian carrying out a health control in a pig farming macro-farm. Font:

A meat with a lot of control

The debate opened by Minister Alberto Garzón is more ethical y Environmental what other thing. It is a reality that the situation in which these types of animals coexist in these spaces can provoke debates about respect and well-being of the heads of cattle. But it is also true that in terms of health, we can be very tranquil. Whether we are talking about intensive or extensive farming.

The health and quality controls to which our meat is subjected are very strict. The regulations of the European Union establish very clear guidelines, which ensure total control of the meat from the animal husbandry until it reaches the customer. These controls have been accentuated since the crisis in the United Kingdom broke out in 1996. crazy cows, arriving in Spain years later. Since then, the tests are much stricter.

Therefore, when a citizen goes to a supermarket, he can be calm, since the meat we eat it is safe. However, it is also true that the most advisable thing is to pay close attention to the labeling of the product or asking the butcher. Will you take a good look next time?

 

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