NI conference looks at boosting red meat in consumer diets
The potential to boost red meat inclusion rates in consumer diets was highlighted at a conference hosted by public body Invest NI.
The event reflected the growing recognition that high quality protein can play at the very heart of the nutritional priorities established across society as a whole.
Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMC) chief executive, Colin Smith, attended the conference.
He confirmed that the growing level of consumer preference for protein in the diet comes with two key caveats: it must be high quality; and it must be derived from natural sources.
And the LMC representative believes that Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured Beef and Lamb can meet these requirements.
He explained: “It all adds up to a unique opportunity to further profile the key role that red meat can play within a balanced diet.
“But the required messaging to make this happen must be undertaken and funded by all the stakeholder organisations within the beef and lamb sector, with LMC taking a very proactive role in this regard”
The conference was themed 'The Protein Jigsaw’ event.
It was attended by over 70 companies and other stakeholder organisations operating within Northern Ireland’s farming and food sectors.
According to Smith, the presentation given by Richard Brown from the international food and market research company GIRA was "extremely significant".
“It confirmed the growing consumer interest in red meat as a food source that delivered in terms of health and nutrition plus the taste experience both meats deliver in abundance," Smith said.
Weight loss drugs
Meanwhile the use of weight loss medications is set to grow exponentially.
Currently around 5% of people in the UK are using one or other of the injection formats available to this end: the equivalent figure in the US is in the region of 12%.
And this rate of use is set to grow exponentially as the medications become available in tablet form.
In tandem with this, the pending loss of patents under which these medications are currently sold will further boost their use on a generic basis.
Complementing the use of these medications has been the recognition that nutritionally dense foods must be included in one’s diet so as to ensure the retention of muscle mass.
The LMC representative further explained:
“This provides another opportunity to highlight the key dietary benefits that high quality beef and lamb will deliver.”
According to Smith, of equal significance is the now consistent market research confirming that consumers are willing to spend more time preparing food at home while also wanting to go back to the use of basic ingredients when it comes to meal times.
“All of this further endorses the recognition that beef and lamb can be at the centre of the plate across so many meal occasions,” he said.
“It’s a case now of building on this potential.”
