How do people feel about Veal?

Glaucus · 3 Jun 2009 at 20:56

Watching river cottage and I I'm surprised (although I don't know why) hat so many people are still against British veal). which is all raised to the rose standards.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7200018.stm

Calves reared for veal in the UK are legally required to have bedding, more space and a better diet. Conditions meet the welfare standards of both Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and the RSPCA.

Buying British veal

British rosé veal should be getting easier to find in major supermarkets, most of which are members of Defra’s veal Forum. Marks & Spencer stocks only high-welfare, UK-reared rosé veal and have stopped stocking imported white veal. Tesco has phased out imported veal and is stocking UK-reared high-welfare veal. All Waitrose own-label veal is British, from calves raised on a diet of milk, water and roughage, reared in open housing with natural light and straw bedding. It is sold in the majority of its stores and cuts available include osso bucco, rib and tenderloin. The meat is pink, though Waitrose doesn't call it rosé veal. In January 2009 Sainsbury's introduced Freedom Food-approved British veal to 20 stores across the UK. Cuts include mince, escalopes, rib chops, T-bone, osso buco and shoulder.

A good independent butcher should be able to respond to customers' requests. Ask yours for British veal. Members of the Guild of Q Butchers are committed to British beef. For the widest choice of cuts, try buying direct from the farm over the internet. Organic rosé veal from Eastbrook Farm, a founding member of the Good Veal Campaign, is sold via Helen Browning Organics. The Alternative Meats website sells rosé veal from farms monitored and approved by the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme.

Why do people still think all veal is evil. The calves are slaughtered at teh same time as pigs or lambs and Uk Veal (rose) is all produced to much higher welfare.

So do you eat veal, or are you still totally against it?

Burnsy2023 · 3 Jun 2009 at 20:58

Never tried it, not against it though. Does it have a gamey taste?

mjt · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:02

veal is awesome. tender and delicious.

too bad for the animals though, but it tastes great.

Glaucus · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:02

Burnsy2023 said:
Does it have a gamey taste?

Nope, no gamey flavour. It's very delicate.

mjt said:
too bad for the animals though, but it tastes great.

thats teh thing though Uk (rose) veal has very high welfare standards and can't be classified as bad. Unless you think pig welfare in this country is bad.

Muban · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:04

I eat veal, the only thing that stops me eating it more is that it isn't as readily available as the other meats I buy. I make a point of knowing what goes into what I eat and where it comes from, so maybe that is why I don't have any issues with eating veal. A lot of peoples ideas about British veal and animal welfare are very much out of date.

mjt · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:05

pig welfare isn't bad at all in the UK, or indeed anywhere in the EU really.
and they also taste awesome.

i can understand people not being happy with things like battery chickens, but regarding the other stuff, they're animals, not humans.

Tweek_1984 · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:09

Bit of a sketchy one really. I have eaten it, but don't really agree with the whole process. Although I'd definately kill one if I was a starving hunter-gatherer. That's how I justify it to myself, lol.

Glaucus · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:11

Tweek_1984 said:
but don't really agree with the whole process.

will you eat uk veal no, you know it should not be associated with those stigma?

Burnsy2023 · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:12

AcidHell2 said:
Nope, no gamey flavour. It's very delicate.

If I feel flush, I'll have to try it

KaHn · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:12

Normal Veal is like a good fillet Steak, but I still prefer my Steak

KaHn

PhillyDee · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:12

I have never come across it tbh, and if it is tasty then I will gie it a go!

I only really enjoy food if it used to have a face

KaHn · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:13

Burnsy2023 said:
If I feel flush, I'll have to try it

It's not that expensive now.

KaHn

Sankari · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:13

AcidHell2 said:
will you eat uk veal no, you know it should not be associated with those astigmatisms?

You mean "stigma", surely. An astigmatism is something you have in your eye...

Glaucus · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:14

yeah that's the one

Burnsy2023 said:
If I feel flush, I'll have to try it

Well worth it. I liek it just lightly floured and fried very fast with sautéed potatoes and a cream and white wine sauce.

nikebee · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:16

Burnsy2023 said:
Never tried it, not against it though. Does it have a gamey taste?

Same as Burnsy here.

Can't say I'm against Veal but can't say I've ever ate it either.

If it was put in front of me I'd eat it, and only depending on whether I liked it or not would I continue/stop eating it.

snowdog · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:17

I don't feel anything about veal.

Waste of time. Eat it if you like it and stop moaning because humans>animals.

Gothic Draconia · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:19

Most people see veal on par with say foie gras. Not the worst thing in the world but conscience can sometimes get the better of you.

Goliath · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:20

AcidHell2 said:
Why do people still think all veal is evil?

People in the UK hear veal and instantly think of the "crated" white veal that is prevalent on the continent; about 1-15 years ago this got a horrendous press in the UK due to the intesive farming and transport methods it uses (the calves are effectively kept in crates to stop them moving and keep the flesh very pale).

UK rosé veal is really just young beef (think lamb to mutton) and is absolutely delicious; osso buco is possibly one of the tastiest things I've ever eaten, right up there with a good oxtail stew

RoboCod · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:23

I like veal, and lamb and eating lot's of other small cute animals.

yermum · 3 Jun 2009 at 21:29

osso bucco, veal escalope breaded and sauted in butter, calves' liver - ultra nom nom nom.

For those who don't really know veal, it cooks quickly and is a delicate flavour. It is great with or without a sauce and is very versatile.