Food Prices and Crappy Waterlogged Meat

[Exterminator]

Okay, thanks on correcting that. I know they use to eat horse in certain parts of Europe. My husband was in Air Force and said when he was in it in the '80's, Belgium had horse meat that was served in places.

Like I said, the do apparently still eat it in some places.  I had to look it up because I had never seen it and, well, looking things up is what we do!   

[Purplelady1040]

Like I said, the do apparently still eat it in some places.  I had to look it up because I had never seen it and, well, looking things up is what we do!   

No worries and thanks for clearing up about the guidelines. I just thought since Europe is in ways a lot less restrictive on some things that they might not have guidelines on food. When we were in Ukraine, I wouldn't eat meat, now I am sure it was probably beef but I just wouldn't eat the meat. 

[Exterminator]

When we were in Ukraine, I wouldn't eat meat, now I am sure it was probably beef but I just wouldn't eat the meat. 

When I was there, the Ukraine was on the other side of the wall!   

[Purplelady1040]

When I was there, the Ukraine was on the other side of the wall!   

Lol! We saw symbols of Communism all around us but of course, they use to be Russia and this was in Kiev. Kiev had 13 McDonald's. Lol and we would go to Independence Square where they supposedly fought for their freedom from Russia.

[me]

Read the entire article.


http://virtualweberbullet.com/enhancedmeat.html

Some people counter that enhanced meat is just a way for producers to make more profit by selling meat that's pumped full of water. Don Schiefelbein, Executive Director of the American Gelbvieh Association, a cattle breeding association based in Westminster, Colorado, wrote the following in an article titled, "Lean & Tender vs. Lean & Tasty: Let's Not Become Chicken":

    "The lean and tender movement has already taken place in both the pork and poultry industry. The controlling entity (usually the packer) has driven the change in the name of consistency. Unfortunately, the leaner you make meat, the higher the risk of drying out the product during cooking. In order to manage dryness, the pork and poultry packers have aggressively begun offering moisture-enhanced products, i.e. lean and tender pork with water added. The result has been devastating to the pork industry. Lean and tender, moisture-enhanced pork now tastes just like chicken...

    "Our beef industry is heading down that very same road. Packers have tremendous economic incentive to increase their profits and manage dryness in the lean product by adding water (moisture enhanced). Exactly the way it has already happened in the pork and poultry industry. The economics are simple. The more water you add, the more profit you make in the short run."

[Exterminator]

Read the entire article.

Under the section marked How To Identify Enhanced Meat, the following statement appears: "Under federal law, the solution used to enhance meat must be disclosed on the package label. The label must list the total quantity and the common or usual name of the solution ingredients."

Under the section marked How To Identify Non-Enhanced Meat, the following statement appears: "Photo 5 shows the label for a regular, non-enhanced turkey. It may include a phrase like "Contains up to 6% retained water." Do not confuse this with an enhanced turkey. Retained water is water that is absorbed and retained by the skin and meat as a result of washing and water-immersion chilling during processing. The USDA requires that poultry producers prove that the retained water is an unavoidable consequence of the process used to meet food safety requirements and that they list the actual or maximum percentage of retained water on the label."

Both of these statements directly contradict your claim that people are secretly pumping meat full of water to increase its weight.

[me]

Just because meat is sold in Cryovac packaging or in a fancy butcher shop display case does not mean that it's not enhanced meat. Even the word "natural" on the label does not guarantee non-enhanced meat.

Under federal law, the solution used to enhance meat must be disclosed on the package label. The label must list the total quantity and the common or usual name of the solution ingredients.

The only way to determine if meat has been enhanced is to carefully read the package label and ask lots of questions of the meat department personnel.

If you're trying to avoid enhanced meat, you do not want to see any of the phrases listed below on the package label.

In Photo 1, a Butterball frozen turkey reads:

    "Contains up to 7% of a solution to enhance juiciness and tenderness of water, salt, modified food starch, sodium phosphates and natural flavors."

In Photo 2, the story is a bit more confusing. The big print on this Butterball turkey says "FRESH" and "ALL NATURAL". One could be forgiven for assuming this is a non-enhanced turkey. However, you'll notice there's a little asterisk at the end of "NATURAL". The fine print on the label says:

    "Contains up to 4% of a solution of water, salt and spices to enhance tenderness and juiciness. Fresh never frozen. *No artificial ingredients. Minimally processed."

In this case, Butterball defines "all natural" to mean nothing artificial added. But clearly this is an enhanced turkey because of the use of a salt and spice solution. As you can see, "fresh, all natural" and "minimally processed" does not necessarily mean "not enhanced".

In Photo 3, a grocery store brand of frozen turkey reads:

    "Injected with approximately 8-1/2% of a solution for juiciness and tenderness. Solution ingredients: Turkey broth, salt, sodium phosphate, sugar and flavorings"

Another brand of frozen bone-in turkey breast reads:

    "Injected with up to 15% of a solution to enhance juiciness. Solution ingredients: turkey broth, salt, sugar, sodium phosphates, flavoring"

In Photo 4, a national-brand of enhanced pork spareribs says on its label:

    "Tenderness and moistness improved with up to twelve percent Deep BastedTM solution"

Another popular brand of enhanced pork ribs reads:

    "Deep BastedTM by addition of up to 7% of a solution of water, sodium phosphates."

Another brand of "premium" pork loin back ribs says:

    "Moistness enhanced with up to an 8% solution*"

Then on the back of the package it says:

    "*Solution ingredients: Water, salt, sodium phosphates"

Be on the look-out for the words "basted", "enhanced", "injected", "improved" and "marinated". Look for fancy packages with recognizable brand names that use phrases like "always tender", "moist and juicy", "tender and juicy", "guaranteed tender", and "extra tender".

But what if the meat has been packaged (or repackaged) by the supermarket or is displayed unpackaged? In this case, ask the meat department personnel if the meat has been enhanced with a solution. If he or she says "No," then say that you're serious about old-fashioned, slow-cooked barbecue, and that you prefer conventional meat. Then ask, "Can you bring out the original box or Cryovac packaging so I can take a look?" Like Ronald Reagan said while negotiating nuclear arms reductions with the Soviet Union, "Trust, but verify."

How To Identify Non-Enhanced Meat
Typical label for natural turkey
Photo 5                   

Non-enhanced meat contains no added salt, solutions or flavorings. You should not see the phrase, "Contains up to X% of a solution to enhance tenderness and juiciness" on the label.

Photo 5 shows the label for a regular, non-enhanced turkey. It may include a phrase like "Contains up to 6% retained water." Do not confuse this with an enhanced turkey. Retained water is water that is absorbed and retained by the skin and meat as a result of washing and water-immersion chilling during processing. The USDA requires that poultry producers prove that the retained water is an unavoidable consequence of the process used to meet food safety requirements and that they list the actual or maximum percentage of retained water on the label.

Closing Thoughts

You have the right to know what you're buying, but you also have the responsibility to be a careful shopper, read package labels, and ask the butcher about their products if you have any questions.

Enhanced meat is the wave of the future and it's not going away. People who live in locations that don't have many meat sources to choose from may end up having no choice but to accept enhanced meats and learn to adapt their barbecue recipes accordingly. For example, one might cut back on the amount of salt used in a rub.

In the meantime, tell your butcher and your grocery store manager that you prefer regular meat, if that's your preference, and vote with your wallet. It may not make any difference in the long run, but hopefully there will always be sources out there providing fresh, conventional meat...even if the cost is higher.

Updated: 01/29/2016

[AbbyTC]

Both of these statements directly contradict your claim that people are secretly pumping meat full of water to increase its weight.

Read the above from Ex and now read this from your post:

"Be on the look-out for the words "basted", "enhanced", "injected", "improved" and "marinated". Look for fancy packages with recognizable brand names that use phrases like "always tender", "moist and juicy", "tender and juicy", "guaranteed tender", and "extra tender"."

Now now back and read Ex's quote again.  Do you get it?  It has to be listed on the package!  It's not a secret that they put water into it, because if it isn't listed on the label that it is enhanced, etc., then what they are doing is ILLEGAL. 

[The Troll]

 

  You know some of this food injection really makes the meat taste good.  In fact I have a big needle baster.  You really make a Boston Butt taste real good and tender with the right liquid and cooked at low temperature and a long time.   

[me]

Read the above from Ex and now read this from your post:

"Be on the look-out for the words "basted", "enhanced", "injected", "improved" and "marinated". Look for fancy packages with recognizable brand names that use phrases like "always tender", "moist and juicy", "tender and juicy", "guaranteed tender", and "extra tender"."

Now now back and read Ex's quote again.  Do you get it?  It has to be listed on the package!  It's not a secret that they put water into it, because if it isn't listed on the label that it is enhanced, etc., then what they are doing is ILLEGAL.

Unethical not illegal.

Some people counter that enhanced meat is just a way for producers to make more profit by selling meat that's pumped full of water. Don Schiefelbein, Executive Director of the American Gelbvieh Association, a cattle breeding association based in Westminster, Colorado, wrote the following in an article titled, "Lean & Tender vs. Lean & Tasty: Let's Not Become Chicken":

    "The lean and tender movement has already taken place in both the pork and poultry industry. The controlling entity (usually the packer) has driven the change in the name of consistency. Unfortunately, the leaner you make meat, the higher the risk of drying out the product during cooking. In order to manage dryness, the pork and poultry packers have aggressively begun offering moisture-enhanced products, i.e. lean and tender pork with water added. The result has been devastating to the pork industry. Lean and tender, moisture-enhanced pork now tastes just like chicken...

    "Our beef industry is heading down that very same road. Packers have tremendous economic incentive to increase their profits and manage dryness in the lean product by adding water (moisture enhanced). Exactly the way it has already happened in the pork and poultry industry. The economics are simple. The more water you add, the more profit you make in the short run."

Addressing the lable thing.

But what if the meat has been packaged (or repackaged) by the supermarket or is displayed unpackaged? In this case, ask the meat department personnel if the meat has been enhanced with a solution. If he or she says "No," then say that you're serious about old-fashioned, slow-cooked barbecue, and that you prefer conventional meat. Then ask, "Can you bring out the original box or Cryovac packaging so I can take a look?" Like Ronald Reagan said while negotiating nuclear arms reductions with the Soviet Union, "Trust, but verify."

[Anne]

No worries and thanks for clearing up about the guidelines. I just thought since Europe is in ways a lot less restrictive on some things that they might not have guidelines on food. When we were in Ukraine, I wouldn't eat meat, now I am sure it was probably beef but I just wouldn't eat the meat. 

I know this is off topic and isn't any of my business, but did you adopt one of your children from Ukraine. My cousin and his wife adopted both of their children from there, I can't remember which city when they lived in England. He wrote updates every day and it was interesting to read about the process of adopting. Their kids are young teens now.

[AbbyTC]

Unethical not illegal.

Holy fuck!  Is your memory that short term or are you just that stupid? It is illegal to add water and not state it on the package!  If you get meat from a display case, then ask about it.  Our grocery store states the ingredients and amount of water added (if it is added) right beside the price markers. 

From the Food Safety and Inspection Service part of the USDA site:          Ground Beef and Food Safety  Beef fat may be added to "hamburger," but not "ground beef." A maximum of 30% fat is allowed in either hamburger or ground beef. Both hamburger and ground beef can have seasonings, but no water, phosphates, extenders, or binders added. The labeling of meat food products must comply with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and the meat inspection regulations and labeling policies.

Enhanced Meat and Poultry Products
Many grocery stores are now offering meat and poultry products that have flavoring solutions added to them. For example, pork chops may be packaged with a solution of water, salt, and sodium phosphate (a solution that can add flavor and moisture to leaner meats). These new products also provide convenience by saving steps in preparation, such as "Teriyaki Beef in Teriyaki Sauce." To prevent confusion, the presence of flavor solutions must be stated on the front of the package.
Enhanced or value-added meat and poultry products are raw products that contain flavor solutions added through marinating, needle injecting, soaking, etc. The presence and amount of the solution will be featured as part of the product name, for example, "Chicken Thighs Flavored with up to 10% of a Solution" or "Beef Steak Marinated with 6% of a Flavor Solution." The ingredients of the flavor solution must be prominently identified on the label. Typically, this information will be on the principal display panel or the information panel.
The labeling term "marinated" can only be used with specific amounts of solution. "Marinated" meats can contain no more than 10% solution; boneless poultry, no more than 8% solution; and bone-in poultry, no more than 3% solution.
In the case of enhanced products, the solutions that are added to the meat or poultry, or into which the meat or poultry are placed for flavoring, seasoning, and tenderizing, are intended to be part of the product. The solutions are required by regulations and policies to be identified as part of the product names of the enhanced products, and whether the solution is incorporated into the product or is free- flowing, it is considered part of the product.

[me]

Holy fuck!  Is your memory that short term or are you just that stupid? It is illegal to add water and not state it on the package!  If you get meat from a display case, then ask about it.  Our grocery store states the ingredients and amount of water added (if it is added) right beside the price markers.

Not that I've ever seen. Of course I don't shop Wal-Mart. Damn you're a potty mouth. Evidentely all Libs are nasty natured.

[AbbyTC]

Not that I've ever seen. Of course I don't shop Wal-Mart. Damn you're a potty mouth. Evidentely all Libs are nasty natured.

What does Wal-Mart have to do with it? No one ever mentioned Wal-mart.   All libs are nasty natured?  You repeat the same thing over and over after what you have said has been proven false. I'm calling it as I see it.  You bring it on yourself.   

[Purplelady1040]

Not that I've ever seen. Of course I don't shop Wal-Mart. Damn you're a potty mouth. Evidentely all Libs are nasty natured.

No one even mentioned Walmart but all stores have to follow the same guidelines. You seem to not get that.