Cheap Meat: Is It Worth It?
No one likes having to pay more than they have to. However, when paying for meat, you should always be careful when looking at cheaper rates. Global meat production is likely to increase massively – by around 73% from 2010 to 2050. Therefore, to keep up with demand, many suppliers often aim cheaply.
However, that’s only one side of the story. Cheap meat is poorly processed – and unless you’re buying wholesale bulk meat from a trusted source, you’re at significant risk. Let’s explore why.
Why is Some Meat Cheap?
Cheap meat primarily exists thanks to supply and demand. Unfortunately, many people don’t think too deeply about where their meat comes from—the more affordable the meat, the cheaper the feed – and the less intensive the production process. Therefore, many of us find that we invest in cheap meat at a bargain – but at a serious cost elsewhere.
Keeping meat cheap is ideal for the economy, but not so much for our health. There have been multiple cases of salmonella outbreaks due to cheapened meat production. What’s more, cheaper meat production leads to horrific standards of care behind the scenes.
Crucially, some meat is cheap because corners are cut to keep it that way. While that’s kinder on our bank balances, production practices can verge on irresponsible.
Why You Should Never Buy Cheap Meat
Cheap meat – at its lowest price – is unlikely to be produced at the standards you expect. This may mean that it is cut from animals that have been poorly raised, for example. Moreover, by cutting corners to produce cheap meat, some farms may not follow appropriate hygiene standards. Sadly, many people worry more about how cheap meat is – not where it has come from.
Traceability is a must. The cheapest of meat is highly processed and produced in centralized locations. Therefore, you may not truly know the conditions of a slaughterhouse before you purchase your meat. What’s more, various studies suggest that heavily processed and cheaper meat is bad for you. When you buy from a wholesale meats butcher shop, can you be assured of the standards you’re buying into?
The True Price of Cheap Meat
Of course, the true price of cheap meat revolves around animal welfare. Many people turn blind eyes to meat production standards. However, the cheaper the meat, the less likely it is that the animals reared have been given a chance to ‘live’. Free-range meat is raised so that chickens, cows, and turkeys aren’t subjected to horrific, penned-in conditions.
In many cases, people have to pay more for the reassurance that their meat has come from a trustworthy source. However, those who continue to buy exclusively cheap meat effectively contribute to the broader problems.
Conclusion
If you are investing in a butcher in Etobicoke or elsewhere, don’t be afraid to ask questions about your purchase. As responsible providers of freshly cut meat, we are committed to working with farms offering impeccable conditions. What’s more, the meat you buy from us is always fresh and sustainably reared.
