Call for busting fake news on meat to be top priority
The myths and fake news surrounding UK meat production and consumption need to be burst with factbased truth and a big dose of reality.
That was the end-ofyear message delivered by the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) which has called for producers, processors and retailers to focus on this “top priority” task over the next year if the industry was to have any meaningful future.
The association’s chairman, Andy Mcgowan said that Scotland’s red meat industry was one of the jewels in the crown of the country’s hugely successful food and drink story:
“And we need to make sure that 2020 is the year in whichwefightbackagainst the poorly-researched, factually ignorant and thinlybased myths advanced by those whose agenda is to demonise meat production and consumption.”
He said that the industry had a strong and positive message to deliver on behalf of the natural grassbased livestock production systems upon which the quality image of Scotland’s beef and lamb output was founded, alongside the impressive efficiency of the country’s high health status pig industry:
“We need to unite as an industry in getting behind
QMS to present this strong message to the nation’s increasingly confused consumers.”
However he said the industry started in a position of strength as consumers loved the product – and the industry should remember this as it tackled the anti-meat lobby.
Mcgowan said that the recent BBC programme which focused on South America farming systems and US pork production was a prime example of “poorly researched” material being used to draw conclusions which attacked the meat industry
“While consumers love our product, they are constantly made to feel guilty about choosing to eat meat, being regularly exposed to a mantra of anti-meat propaganda, dressed up as concern for a host of other issues.”
He said in contrast, Scottish production methods were “solid and secure” and stood up to scrutiny, adding that research had shown that a hectare of grazing sequestered as much carbon as a hectare of forest..
Mr Mcgowan, said that speaking on behalf of member businesses whose commitment to the country’s red meat sector underpins trading activities worth £2 billion and the direct employment of 3,000 workers, another key area for the sector would be to ensure that a smooth Brexit transition was achieved along with a trade deal which delivered trade which was free and frictionless and which could be conducted without tariffs or other market impediments.