News
Monday, March 9, 2015

Why care about the welfare of an animal you eat?

Since late 2014 many slaughterhouses have been closed throughout Lebanon for failing to meet minimum standards.

Much of the discussion was about refrigeration, storage, handling and hygiene after the animal had been slaughtered. Basically, how the meet was handled and stored before it goes to supermarkets, restaurants and butchers.

But so many of the improvements that need to be made at slaughterhouses happen before and during the time of slaughter, the welfare of the animal before being killed.

So why should you care how about an animals welfare if it is just going to be killed and eaten?

Addressing the serious welfare failures by slaughterhouses, Animals Lebanon is taking part now in a two day workshop on welfare at the time of slaughter.

Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, OIE and the European Commission, this workshop provides understanding and assistance to improve the conditions before and during slaughter.

These standards are detailed in the animal protection and welfare law that was recently approved by the Council of Ministers. (have this link to the ‘the law’ page of legislation)

The thousands of animals killed for food must be spared from the significant suffering they current face.

The welfare of animals directly affects all of us, and this is one of the clearest examples.

So what kind of meat are you getting in Lebanon?

According to the presentations of the Ministry of Agriculture, the main problem for cow meat is something called DFD – Dark Firm and Dry meat.

DFD meat means that the carcass was from an animal that was stressed, injured or diseased before being slaughtered.

The carcass meat is darker and drier than normal and has a much firmer texture.

This meat is of inferior quality as the less pronounced taste and the dark color is less acceptable to the consumer and has a shorter shelf life due to the abnormally high pH-value of the meat.

Sound familiar?

The government is continuing to follow up on the slaughterhouses, and this workshop helped ensure that any changes or plans will include the necessary welfare improvements.

Give a thought to all those cows you see transported in the back of trucks, falling under the hot sun or cold rain, and don’t ignore the videos online showing what really happens at the slaughterhouse.

The animals, and consumers, deserve better.

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