Meat

One user on Twitter called the #HalalChallenge

Germany in social media storm over halal meat

By Oscar Rousseau

German social media campaigners have called for pork to be placed in the halal section of supermarkets to challenge the “cruel” way animals are slaughtered, but critics argue this is an Islamophobic attack.

Picture: istockphoto-TimArbaev

Islam was the fastest growing religion in America from 2000 to 2010

GUEST ARTICLE: US halal food regulations… Are you up to speed?

By Jeanne Cullen and Furqan Mohammed, Perkins Coie LLP

A growing segment of US consumers is scrutinizing animal treatment and slaughter from an Islamic lens, while halal food consumption among the nation's fast-growing Muslim population has become a ballooning enterprise in the United States and is now...

Marfrig's CEO said the asset sale does not mean Marfrig is retreating from Argentina

China pounces on Marfrig's Argentinian assets

By Oscar Rousseau

Brazilian meat processing giant Marfrig has sold a raft of its Argentinian assets to the red meat Chinese business Black Bamboo Enterprises, a subsidiary of Foresun Group.

The ACCC said it recognised people may 'fear retribution' for speaking out on wrongdoing

Australia’s watchdog plans beef sector dissection

By Oscar Rousseau

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced plans for a major probe and analysis into competition, efficiency and transparency in the country’s red meat industry.

Beston beats import prohibition through Chinese distribution deal

Beston beats import prohibition through Chinese distribution deal

By RJ Whitehead

South Australia’s Beston Global Food Company has signed a manufacturing and distribution agreement with Hondo Agricultural Company of China for the production, marketing and distribution of its range of allergen-free, ready-to-eat meals.

Argentina, Brazil and New Zealand all boosted exports of beef to China in 2015

Beef imports rise as China’s growth cools

By Oscar Rousseau

China’s official beef imports surged by more than 50% last year as a government crackdown on grey market meat bolstered formal trade figures, according to a new report.

It's unclear if the outbreak of AI will result in poultry trade bans for South Korea

South Korea hit with bird flu outbreak

By Oscar Rousseau

Just one month after securing its bird flu-free status, South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed bird flu has been detected near the country’s capital, Seoul. 

Greenhouse gas mitigation potential from livestock sector revealed

Greenhouse gas mitigation potential from livestock sector revealed

By RJ Whitehead

Australian scientists believe that the world’s livestock sector could account for up to half of the global agricultural, forestry and land-use sectors’ potential to mitigate greenhouse gases while still maintaining its economic and social benefits.

This is LIDD – a film solution for the ready meal market. Image courtesy of Parkside

Parkside plans Malaysia investment

By Oscar Rousseau

Meat packaging manufacturer Parkside has announced plans to “invest significantly” in its Malaysia plant to offer its Asian customer base the same products as supplies to its European clients.

Edible insects: set for mainstream manufacturing success

Innovation conference

Edible insects: coming to a manufacturer near you

By Michael Stones

Edible insects are set for mainstream manufacturing success, as their US popularity is repeated on this side of the Atlantic, according to speakers at Food Manufacture’s innovation conference – New Frontiers in Food and Drink.

Cleaver's ethos is that all food animals should be allowed to roam free in their paddock

Australian meat firm redesigns organic labelling

By Oscar Rousseau

Australian clean meat company Cleaver’s has redesigned its meat packaging to help consumers easily identify the ethical and humane way the company believes meat should be produced.

Six-legged livestock: The next ‘bug’ thing

Soapbox

Six-legged livestock: The next ‘bug’ thing

By Massimo Reverberi, founder of Bugsolutely

There is only one obstacle between insect-based foods and supermarket shelves: western people don’t like to think of eating them. 

Meat traders plan to wait until 31 March before considering a protest

Mumbai meat traders angry with airport sales restrictions

By Raghavendra Verma, in New Delhi

Meat traders in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai are concerned about a potentially precedent-setting tightening of restrictions on sales within a 10-kilometre radius of the city’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. 

The app can even work in remote areas without 3G or 4G phone reception

App helps Aussie farmers improve standards

By Oscar Rousseau

A newly-launched app for beef farmers has been developed to help the meat and livestock industry set up a forage budget and improve best practices among producers.

Beef and lamb exports helped New Zealand enjoy a strong year of international trade

Meat demand bolsters New Zealand export growth

By Oscar Rousseau

New Zealand meat exports have been one of the key performers of 2015, helping the country earn NZ$2.5 billion more than the amount it spent on imported goods last year.

Poultry prices have dropped by 45% as Russia undercuts Kyrgyzstan's trade

Kyrgyzstan poultry farms on the verge of extinction

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

Common customs space with Russia and Kazakhstan has almost killed off poultry farming in Kyrgyzstan, according to a report from the chairman of the country’s Union of Poultry Farmers, Rustam Osmonaliev. 

New safety law pledges to use criminal penalties to punish food safety transgressors

Chinese authorities split over antibiotic overuse

By Oscar Rousseau

China’s top regulator for food safety has said overuse of antibiotics is a “prominent problem” for the country’s meat industry and has called for agriculture and meat processors to do more to reduce traces of antibiotics. 

Australia is looking to Thailand for live cattle exports

Thailand tipped as key market for Australian beef

By Oscar Rousseau

Thailand has been earmarked as a potential processing and distribution hub for Western Australian live cattle exports, according to a government report on trade opportunities in south-east Asia.

The acquisition may help Nichols Poultry expand its operation in mainland Australia

TasFood eyes Nichols Poultry acquisition

By Oscar Rousseau

Australian agrifood business TasFood Limited is planning a takeover of the family-owned, Tasmanian chicken producer Nichols Poultry. 

Shipping city of Primorsky Krai is seen as a promising area for investment

Russia creates pork hub to target China

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

Two Russian companies plan to create a pig breeding cluster in the far east of the country within the next five years, designed to have a capacity for 1.2 million head of pigs, with an investment of RUB72 billion (US$954m). 

Kiwi meat-free movement sees 27% growth in four years

Kiwi meat-free movement sees 27% growth in four years

By RJ Whitehead

Vegetarianism is growing in popularity in New Zealand, where the proportion of Kiwis who say the food they eat is completely, or almost all, vegetarian has grown by 27% since 2011, a survey has found.

Japan has been using Chinese social media to promote its popular Kobe beef

Meat firms should target China’s tourists

By Mark Godfrey

Hotel chains like Hilton, InterContinental and Sheraton and airlines like Air Asia, Air China and Cathay Pacific have been busy expanding their operations in China to capture the rise in outbound tourist numbers due to stronger incomes and a stronger...

Legislation on animal welfare in China has been slow

China’s first welfare code for feed lots, slaughterhouses due in June

By Mark Godfrey

China will have its first draft animal husbandry and slaughtering standards code by June, according to the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), which is working with 30 domestic livestock breeding and slaughtering enterprises to draft the standards.

Beef imports to Japan from Europe were worth ($5.1m in the first half of 2015

Japan lifts ban on Danish beef imports

By Oscar Rousseau

Japan has ended its 15-year ban on the imports of Danish beef after long-running mad cow disease fears were addressed by European politicians.

Yurun Food Group's HQ in Nanjing, China

China's slowdown hits second-biggest pork company

By Mark Godfrey

Yurun Food, China’s number-two pork player, continues to go through turbulent times, with some industry watchers forecasting a sell-off of company assets this year to get the firm back on track, after a massive investment in real estate has exposed the...