Spanish beef !

tremely rigid. So stiff are the quality control measures that the World Organization for Animal Health has included Spain in its list of countries where the risk of mad cow disease is negligible.

Despite the fact that cow raising is the most environmentally damaging form of animal husbandry, PROVACUNO members have adopted a system to reduce the methane emitted by their cows, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Spanish beef industry is a world leader in animal welfare too. Producers are made to ensure that the animals enjoy a good quality of life and that their slaughter is humane, if not painless.

Spain is now the 4th largest beef producer in the EU and the 14th largest exporter in the world. In 2016, it exported €900 million worth of beef products primarily to Portugal and the Netherlands. Hong Kong is its biggest market in Asia. PROVACUNO has high hopes for the Philippines considering our market size and increasing purchasing power.

In terms of health benefits, most Filipinos think that beef is laden with bad cholesterol. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dietitians attest that beef provides proteins of high biological value, iron zinc, magnesium, and potassium. It is also rich in vitamins A, D, E, K, C, and B12, which is essential for the formulation of red blood cells and the development of the nervous system. Proteins derived from beef are easy to digest and provide essential amino acids that help build muscles.

For its part, iron helps many vital functions in the body including sustaining energy and focus, facilitating digestion, strengthening the immune system, and regulating body temperature. Beef contains about 3 milligrams of iron for every 100 gram serving, 20-30% of which is easily absorbed by the body. In contrast, iron derived from vegetables has an absorption rate of only 1.5%.

Contrary to the belief that beef is fattening, in truth, it only contains 120-140 calories for every 100 gram serving. This is not much considering the recommended calorie intake for an adult is 2,000 calories per day. A portion of beef contains the same calories as a thin slice of cheese.

Eating Well Magazine and numerous publications have hailed Mediterranean cuisine as the healthiest diet in the world of which beef is an important component. The Spaniards have one of the longest lifespans, 81.57 years, compared to Filipinos who live an average of only 68.96 years.

So when will Spanish beef be available locally?

The commercial office of the Spanish embassy submitted their application to the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS), a unit of the Department of Agriculture, back in 2017. The Spanish application was recently shortlisted to move forward. This month, a mission from the DA will travel to Spain to inspect 18 establishments including meat processing plants, cold storage facilities, and slaughterhouses. It took a while to schedule the visit as the DA prefers to conduct its inspection during the season when sanitation deficiencies are prevalent.

Should the DA find everything in order, a Certificate of System Accreditation will be awarded to Spain. This will open the way for the importation of Spanish beef.

As someone who has personally seen the class leading slaughterhouses and meat processing plants of Spain, I have no doubt that they will pass with flying colors. I just hope that the DA will grant permission to import Spanish beef before December. If so, we Filipinos can enjoy a gloriously delicious and healthy Christmas feast with Spanish beef as the star of the Noche

Buena dinner.