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Meat and meat products

Meat and meat products play an important role in our cuisines. The rearing of livestock involves various techniques and breeds that can be traced back to ancient times in Europe. Meat from the European Union is very safe and of high quality, thanks to high safety measures and controls covering every aspect of the production and handling, from the farmyard to the butchers.

safety

Safety

Each farm animal in the European Union is registered, and its meat can be traced back to an individual farm and farmer. This registration facilitates effective disease prevention. EU animal health laws also ensure that every farm animal is kept in good conditions. Furthermore, there are sanitary controls at every level, for example, to check the meat against contaminants.

labelling

Labelling

Specific labelling protects meat that is produced in a certain region: for example, Irish Connemara Hill or Greek Elassonas lamb. The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) protect the traditional methods of production and guarantee the authenticity and origin of products, as not only the production methods but also the climate and geography contribute to authentic taste and quality. For example, the distinctive flavour and texture of Danish Vadehavslam are a direct result of the unique climate of the Danish coast and its salty farmland.

great taste

Great Taste

Rich in essential nutrients, great-tasting EU beef and pork help maintain a balanced diet rich in protein, zinc, iron and B vitamins. Poultry from the EU is a healthy low-fat and low-cholesterol option, and an important part of the European agricultural production.

preservation method

Traditional European preservation methods

In the European Union, meat is mainly preserved through salting or smoking. Salting, with dry salt or with brine, is a traditional method that is part of most PDO and PGI meat products. Salt prevents the growth of microorganisms by drawing water out of the cells. End products include the typical Bresaola from Valtellina, Italy: the raw beef or horse meat is salted and tanned with pepper, garlic, cinnamon, bay leaf and cloves, and left hanging in brine for a period of 10 to 15 days.

Smoking uses dehydration and exposure to smoke from burning or smouldering. The smoking process on Spanish Cecina (Léon, Spain) enhances the aroma and brings out the characteristic mature taste. Cârnaţi de Pleşcoi sausage, the only traditional Romanian sausage to receive a PDO label, is also smoked. It is made from goat or mutton, is spiced with chilli and garlic, then dried and smoked.