Put venison on school dinner menu, campaigner urges

[Utectok]

 

[Chris1]

I've often wondered why one of the celebrity chefs haven't picked up on this..why do we import minced lamb when venison mince could be given to NHS kitchens, School kitchens and Homeless kitchens etc etc for a fraction of the cost. It's 'home' grown, ethical, healthier and virtually carbon neutral..or certainly not as environmentally damaging as being transported from NZ..as a family, we haven't bought farmed red meat for years and yet we have it minced, stewed, slow cooked or steaks at least once a week.

 

[Heym SR20]

Unless or until you can certify that any venison entering the school catering market is lead free this is just wishful thinking.

Any official will never sign off game meat for use in schools whilst Food Standards Agency state there is a potential risk from eating lead shot game.

The sooner there can be general agreement on not using lead in the culling of deer the better for the whole market place. Once the market is there, the extra value created will more than make up any additional cost of the bullets.

Lead shot game | Food Standards Scotland

Eating lead-shot game regularly can expose you to potentially harmful levels of lead

www.foodstandards.gov.scot

 

[RCS Deer Management]

Unless or until you can certify that any venison entering the school catering market is lead free this is just wishful thinking.

I agree with this bit

The sooner there can be general agreement on not using lead in the culling of deer the better for the whole market place. Once the market is there, the extra value created will more than make up any additional cost of the bullets.

However this is completely delusional. You obviously don’t deal with gamedealers often if you believe any added profit would be passed onto deer managers. I’m personally for the use of non toxic ammunition, but I don’t think for a second that any extra profit will come to stalkers using it

 

[Sishy]

Can you imagine what most gen x y z whatever they are nowadays would say about it ? Even if it got past the schools board , could do deer nuggets or twizlers I suppose

 

[Heym SR20]

I agree with this bit

However this is completely delusional. You obviously don’t deal with gamedealers often if you believe any added profit would be passed onto deer managers. I’m personally for the use of non toxic ammunition, but I don’t think for a second that any extra profit will come to stalkers using it

You are probably correct. But why go through dealers. They can’t certify the source is lead free. But individual estates, game management groups etc can do - many already have a food licence and sell direct to restaurants, public etc.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I struggle to see how a "market" for venison will somehow morph into the must-have meat dish throughout the UK due to the exclusive use of copper over lead heads.

It's not as if the current popularity of Bambi cuts is impacted by this consideration by any discernable degree.

The real issue is you are more likely to struggle with giving away even prime venison cuts due to Public disinterest and a fear of something with a taste & texture other than that served in a McDonalds.

K

 

[RCS Deer Management]

You are probably correct. But why go through dealers. They can’t certify the source is lead free. But individual estates, game management groups etc can do - many already have a food licence and sell direct to restaurants, public etc.

I already do all of that and only sell the ones I don’t have time to process myself to the dealer. I was simply pointing out what I thought

 

[willie_gunn]

I've often wondered why one of the celebrity chefs haven't picked up on this..why do we import minced lamb when venison mince could be given to NHS kitchens, School kitchens and Homeless kitchens etc etc for a fraction of the cost. It's 'home' grown, ethical, healthier and virtually carbon neutral..or certainly not as environmentally damaging as being transported from NZ..as a family, we haven't bought farmed red meat for years and yet we have it minced, stewed, slow cooked or steaks at least once a week.

Because wild venison is not assured, not consistent, and not always fully traceable. That is what farmed venison can provide, and why it forms the vast majority of what you see on the supermarket shelves.

Those who provide meals to schools, the homeless, hospital patients, prisoners, etc still have a duty of care. They will not take wild venison just because it is cheaper - if it can’t match all the standards that apply to farmed venison then that is what they will continue to buy.

 

[Ratcatcher]

Because wild venison is not assured, not consistent, and not always fully traceable. That is what farmed venison can provide, and why it forms the vast majority of what you see on the supermarket shelves.

Those who provide meals to schools, the homeless, hospital patients, prisoners, etc still have a duty of care. They will not take wild venison just because it is cheaper - if it can’t match all the standards that apply to farmed venison then that is what they will continue to buy.

100% correct, the fact it's been "shot" will stop almost all public bodies even considering it, even prisons, and im afraid that anyone who believes that copper bullets or steel shot will have even the slightest impact on this, is, frankly delusional