Welfare meat

[KinkyDorito]

Hi all

I have recently started to eat meat after 26 years as a vegetarian.

I need to learn to cook a variety of meat and try to keep to a reasonable budget.

Where are the best places to source meat that is at least free range, if not organic, but doesn't cost loads? Is this even possible?

for any help you can give.

Look in your usual supermarket - you'll find free range chicken and bacon in most.

Support your local butcher. He should know where the meat he sells comes from.

Local butcher is looking like the best choice atm; we only have a small Tesco and it's poor for welfare.

I do drive down to Sainsbury's and buy bits from there.

When I say Tesco is poor for welfare, I mean our branch has free range chicken and that's it.

We don't eat a lot of meat but when we do it comes from the local butcher, it's always good quality and he knows where it's come from.

As far as I'm aware, even the supermarkets organic range isn't that great. They just scrape by on the bare minimum standard's to be considered 'organic'. I was veggie/vegan for 5 years but it started affecting my health so after several blood tests etc made the decision to eat meat again. I sourced a butchers about 20 mind away, had a chat and they were very helpful and accommodating so only go there for meat now (unless we pass a specific farm shop on the way so DPS parents where we know welfare is high )

Buy BRITISH Farm Assured.

British meat has the highest welfare standards in farming in the world. If you buy British with the red tractor sign you won't go far wrong. Even if chicken isn't 'free range,' they will still be in large barns with daylight. Although I do buy free range where possible.

I was vegetarian for 17 years and I also live on a farm, so I looked into all this very extensively.

It is also worth noting that on these threads people always say 'buy from your local butcher.' Whilst it's great to support local businesses, you still need proof that the meat is Farm Assured, as not all is, and still ask where it came from.
Local butcher does not necessarily mean local produce. It's often cheaper for them to buy wholesale from a large abattoir.

Watch out for things like ready meals/pizzas etc, as the meat is often from Venezuela/Thailand/Brazil where apart from the air miles it's done, welfare standards are not as tightly regulated.

ALSO - Organic does not have to mean free range. Organic is to do with what the animals are fed and medicated on, and not their lifestyles. This is a really common misconception.

A farmers market or farm shop where you can buy direct from the producer is often better than a local butcher (for reasons given above). We go to our local one once a month and stock up the freezer.

Have a look on YouTube and learn to joint a chicken - buying a whole chicken is much cheaper than buying individual cuts. This is how I afford free range!

Thanks all of you - this has been really helpful.

I will be looking for red tractors .

Red Tractor ensures little more than compliance with minimum legislative requirements according to Compassion in World Farming. They advise that consumers seeking an assurance of high welfare standards would be advised to purchase organic products, especially those certified by the Soil Association, or RSPCA Freedom Food certified products, particularly those produced to free-range standards.

Assessment of the various schemes here: www.ciwf.org.uk/media/5231246/standards_analysis_exec_summary.pdf