Do you eat beef in the UK?
Aug 12th, 2006, 01:19 PM
#1
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Do you eat beef in the UK?
My husband is a great fan of prime rib...relatives that have traveled over there recently still advise us not to eat any beef. Can anyone update me on the status of the Mad Cow Outbreak in the past years...is it still a concern? Are there any places where you would definitly eat the beef and other's you might just stick to the fish? Does the $$$ of the restaurant play into this? Please keep this topic on topic...it's a genuine concern for us.
Thanks
Tara
Thanks
Tara
Aug 12th, 2006, 01:50 PM
#2
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ma23peas
My simple answer as a Brit is yes yes yes,eat it and enjoy. When I'm eating out and I see it on the menu and feel like eating beef I eat it and at home again when I want to have roastbeef I do. Beef over I think it is 30 months old at slaughter is not allowed to used for human consumption. Check this at the Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) web site which I think is www.defra.gov.uk. The number of people who are reported as having contracted variant CJD (mad cow disease) is getting less every year and as far as I am aware there has been no positive confirmed link between the disease in animals and the human cjd. However I am open to correction on this. I certainly would have no problem eating beef in any part of the UK
My simple answer as a Brit is yes yes yes,eat it and enjoy. When I'm eating out and I see it on the menu and feel like eating beef I eat it and at home again when I want to have roastbeef I do. Beef over I think it is 30 months old at slaughter is not allowed to used for human consumption. Check this at the Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) web site which I think is www.defra.gov.uk. The number of people who are reported as having contracted variant CJD (mad cow disease) is getting less every year and as far as I am aware there has been no positive confirmed link between the disease in animals and the human cjd. However I am open to correction on this. I certainly would have no problem eating beef in any part of the UK
Aug 12th, 2006, 05:23 PM
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I am an American living in the UK. I am very aware of the foods I eat. I eat organic. Go to the weekly farmers' market.
I eat British beef. I feed my four children British beef. I like British beef.
The one thing I don;t eat is mince or ground beef. One more step in the processing of my food I can do without.
eat and enjoy.
Yes, the better the place the better the beef in general. Don;t do into the low end steak houses such as Angus steak house and their lot.
I eat British beef. I feed my four children British beef. I like British beef.
The one thing I don;t eat is mince or ground beef. One more step in the processing of my food I can do without.
eat and enjoy.
Yes, the better the place the better the beef in general. Don;t do into the low end steak houses such as Angus steak house and their lot.
Aug 12th, 2006, 11:24 PM
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The rules preventing some kinds of beef entering tmhe food chain apply uniformly throughout Britain.
Whether the gastronomic experience at anAberdeen Steak House matches a Michelin 3* joint (and I've never met anyone who's ever met anyone who's ever eaten in an Aberdeen Steak House), the beef is just as safe.
Since new cases of new variant CJD (the illness that's alleged to have been spread by BSE-infectd beef) are in the single figures every year (and include lifelong vegetarians), you're in greater danger of being struck by lightning in Britain.
Whether the gastronomic experience at anAberdeen Steak House matches a Michelin 3* joint (and I've never met anyone who's ever met anyone who's ever eaten in an Aberdeen Steak House), the beef is just as safe.
Since new cases of new variant CJD (the illness that's alleged to have been spread by BSE-infectd beef) are in the single figures every year (and include lifelong vegetarians), you're in greater danger of being struck by lightning in Britain.
Aug 12th, 2006, 11:50 PM
#7
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I've not seen Prime Rib in the UK. Maybe I'm wrong but it's more an American cut of beef. Plus, the "Prime" is a quality of the beef in the US and this isn't used in the UK.
Then again, I'm wrong. I do eat British beef, as well as French beef (silly cows speaking french too).
Blackduff
Then again, I'm wrong. I do eat British beef, as well as French beef (silly cows speaking french too).
Blackduff
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Aug 13th, 2006, 01:40 AM
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There are still "steak houses" with the same or very similar external decor and the same or very similar groups of people with mystified/disappointed expressions on their faces sitting in the window seats.
I wouldn't venture in print any suggestions as to the financial circumstances that keep these places afloat.
I wouldn't venture in print any suggestions as to the financial circumstances that keep these places afloat.
Aug 13th, 2006, 01:48 AM
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The regulations are now very strict and British beef is probably the safest to eat nowadays.
Of course, the prime cuts from beef cattle fed on grass always were safe.
It was all the cheap stuff from dairy cattle that you got in cheap burgers, pies and sausages that was the problem/
Of course, the prime cuts from beef cattle fed on grass always were safe.
It was all the cheap stuff from dairy cattle that you got in cheap burgers, pies and sausages that was the problem/
Aug 13th, 2006, 03:05 AM
#12
I don't, and I haven't for 15 years. I am a microbiologist and I just don't think we understand the science of prion related disease sufficiently to make an informed judgement. My main reason for not eating beef is that we do not know wether the effect may be accumalative or not.
Thankfully, it looks like early predictions of an exponential increase in human cases over time were flawed. Similarly, Goverment predictions that BSE (Mad cow disease) would be eliminated from the cattle herds by 2000 also proved false - which means it must be passed on from mother to calf (The feeding practices that created it in the first place have been long abandoned).
The "under 30 month" rule is misleading - As no animal has ever been found to show symptoms at less than 30 month, doesn't mean that the condition is not yet there (CJD doesn't miraculously infect animals at 31 months).
I agree with FlannerUK, the chances of developing vCJD (the human form linked to beef) are extremely remote.
Thankfully, it looks like early predictions of an exponential increase in human cases over time were flawed. Similarly, Goverment predictions that BSE (Mad cow disease) would be eliminated from the cattle herds by 2000 also proved false - which means it must be passed on from mother to calf (The feeding practices that created it in the first place have been long abandoned).
The "under 30 month" rule is misleading - As no animal has ever been found to show symptoms at less than 30 month, doesn't mean that the condition is not yet there (CJD doesn't miraculously infect animals at 31 months).
I agree with FlannerUK, the chances of developing vCJD (the human form linked to beef) are extremely remote.
Aug 13th, 2006, 04:32 AM
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I lived in London in 1996 at the height of the scare. We had 2 kids at the time. CJD was extremely rare (still is) and the evidence linking it to beef was flimsy and highly speculative; - it made a great media event though, with those graphic pictures on TV showing us cows shaking violently and collapsing and linking these images with tragic stories of a few people (some in their teens) also going mad and dying.
Then of course that 'blame game' came into play for a few of those cases and this created a perfect opportunity to foster those usual rantings and ravings from the usual ratbags;
"...yes they must have contracted it from a hamburger",
"yes, it was that nasty cheap meat in those horrible hamburgers..." and, the inevitable (*yawn*) .."yes, ...its all Ronald McDonald's fault...."
This of course, fell into the media's dogbowl of controversy and the public lapped it up too. The outcome though was very positive for silly skeptics like us;
AFFORDABLE BEEF!
GLORIOUS, DELICIOUS BEEF!!
and as cheap as you'd buy in OZ!!! WWWWOW!!
This felt like Xmas for us BBQ-starved aussies - I was struggling on a scholarship back then but still managed to fill the freezer with all types of cuts after a pleasant visit to our local Sainsburys.
I can't tell you how many steaks my family consumed back then; we'd have mixed grills for breakfast some mornings!
Of course we're all still well now but that's anecdotal.
but the disease is and still remains extremely rare!!
and, as willit pointed out; the speculated exponential increase in cases of CJD has NOT transpired.
What more evidence do you need??!
It doesn't matter if you have prime rib, Aberdeen Angus steak, steak de la snob, or a cheeseburger from Maccas; ENJOY IT!!
Then of course that 'blame game' came into play for a few of those cases and this created a perfect opportunity to foster those usual rantings and ravings from the usual ratbags;
"...yes they must have contracted it from a hamburger",
"yes, it was that nasty cheap meat in those horrible hamburgers..." and, the inevitable (*yawn*) .."yes, ...its all Ronald McDonald's fault...."
This of course, fell into the media's dogbowl of controversy and the public lapped it up too. The outcome though was very positive for silly skeptics like us;
AFFORDABLE BEEF!
GLORIOUS, DELICIOUS BEEF!!
and as cheap as you'd buy in OZ!!! WWWWOW!!
This felt like Xmas for us BBQ-starved aussies - I was struggling on a scholarship back then but still managed to fill the freezer with all types of cuts after a pleasant visit to our local Sainsburys.
I can't tell you how many steaks my family consumed back then; we'd have mixed grills for breakfast some mornings!
Of course we're all still well now but that's anecdotal.
but the disease is and still remains extremely rare!!
and, as willit pointed out; the speculated exponential increase in cases of CJD has NOT transpired.
What more evidence do you need??!
It doesn't matter if you have prime rib, Aberdeen Angus steak, steak de la snob, or a cheeseburger from Maccas; ENJOY IT!!
Aug 13th, 2006, 06:02 AM
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>>I've not seen Prime Rib in the UK. Maybe I'm wrong but it's more an American cut of beef. Plus, the "Prime" is a quality of the beef in the US and this isn't used in the UK.<<
"Prime rib" doesn't refer to the grade of the meat, but to the fact that it's from the rib "primal" cut, one of the major large pieces of meat that beef is broken down into in the US. Prime rib can be prime grade, of course, but it's more commonly "choice," as is most beef intended for consumers. The same cut in Britain is typically called "fore rib" but "prime rib" is also used.
"Prime rib" doesn't refer to the grade of the meat, but to the fact that it's from the rib "primal" cut, one of the major large pieces of meat that beef is broken down into in the US. Prime rib can be prime grade, of course, but it's more commonly "choice," as is most beef intended for consumers. The same cut in Britain is typically called "fore rib" but "prime rib" is also used.
Aug 13th, 2006, 06:18 AM
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<i>Prime rib used to refer to a prime grade standing rib roast, but these days all rib roasts (and some rib steaks) are called prime rib regardless of the USDA grade it recieved. The rib roast cut is usually so good that it doesn't need much seasoning. The ingredients I use are simple: a standing rib roast, salt, and pepper.</i>
http://www.cookingforengineers.com/r...ding+Rib+Roast
I guess it's been so long since I had prime rib, it was just the quality. Thanks for giving me an up-to-date of my chlorestrol food chain.
Blackduff
Aug 13th, 2006, 08:05 AM
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Blackduff: what do these French cows say, "Moi"? They must be selfish cows. ;-)
Out of curiosity on this topic, does anyone know if the UK regularly shoots up their cows with growth hormones and antibiotics like they commonly do here in the states?
Highledge: I eat organic too. Since I can't find organic beef near my home, I've given it up. Is the meat that you feed your family organic?
Out of curiosity on this topic, does anyone know if the UK regularly shoots up their cows with growth hormones and antibiotics like they commonly do here in the states?
Highledge: I eat organic too. Since I can't find organic beef near my home, I've given it up. Is the meat that you feed your family organic?
Aug 13th, 2006, 08:15 AM
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Willit Hi,
I am a bit confused, help me out here, (maybe I have Mad cow disease.)
You said
"I don't, and I haven't for 15 years." and "My main reason for not eating beef is that we do not know wether the effect may be accumalative or not".
then you said
"I agree with FlannerUK, the chances of developing vCJD (the human form linked to beef) are extremely remote"
So as a Microbiologist, is there a problem or not? and if not why don't you eat it?
Muck
I am a bit confused, help me out here, (maybe I have Mad cow disease.)
You said
"I don't, and I haven't for 15 years." and "My main reason for not eating beef is that we do not know wether the effect may be accumalative or not".
then you said
"I agree with FlannerUK, the chances of developing vCJD (the human form linked to beef) are extremely remote"
So as a Microbiologist, is there a problem or not? and if not why don't you eat it?
Muck
