Russ you will starve as the microwave cooking time is missingNot a regular shopper, but great to see UK shot venison on the shelf.
Serves two - righto
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Venison in Tesco’s.
- Thread starter FISH BOY
- Start date
Magnificent 7
Well-Known Member
Why do they have to mention it if all there purchased game has to be shot lead free ?
baguio
Well-Known Member
Eh? Because it's telling people what might be it in and if people bite into something they were warned that metal (lead) may be in it. Otherwise, if someone finds some metal in it they will be phoning up looking for compo.
There was a guy on here a while back saying that he had sold over 800 deer at farmer's markets etc and only one customer had ever asked about lead. Consumers really don't care.
Magnificent 7
Well-Known Member
You are missing my point there is a massive push for us all to go lead free the game dealers by all accounts (or so we are told )Won't accept lead shot.So why is Highland game advertising may contain lead I can understand bullet fragments.I agree the Consumer doesn't care.But the excuse used was supermarkets won't accept lead shot.If I was on the buying team and that was the case I'd be questioning it.Things made in a factory that also makes nut products has to mention it but if they don't there is no need to mention it.
baguio
Well-Known Member
Because Highland Game are their own company and they can do what they like. It's not against the law to shoot with lead bullets and my local game dealer is still taking lead shot game. Perhaps Tesco don't care much about it either. I only heard Waitrose mentioned regarding Lead free venison. Don't forget that there are huge freezers still full of lead shot carcasses. That needs to be used up or the Game Dealer will be forced to pay to dispose of it.
Highland game are still taking lead shot carcasses ….. the owner and his cronies are themselves moved to lead free …. And I’m guessing if they could supply their order book with lead free they would …. It’s moving that direction ….
Why is it mentioned on label?
because it’s an arse covering exercise and with October’s
“Natashas law” coming into effect you need even more info etc on labels …
I’d love clarification on what I keep hearing that highland game import in a 40ft container monthly from New Zealand !
Surely with our own product on our doorstep ?!
Why is it mentioned on label?
because it’s an arse covering exercise and with October’s
“Natashas law” coming into effect you need even more info etc on labels …
I’d love clarification on what I keep hearing that highland game import in a 40ft container monthly from New Zealand !
Surely with our own product on our doorstep ?!
As has been said above, the supermarkets in the UK want consistency - consistent quality, consistent quantity, consistent cuts, consistent carcass yield.
Hence why farmed venison is more attractive to them. For sure they’ll use wild venison if it suits them, and if the margin makes it worthwhile, but let’s not kid ourselves that wild venison can deliver the consistency required. In many ways wild venison remains - and perhaps should remain - a quality, niche, product.
Hence why farmed venison is more attractive to them. For sure they’ll use wild venison if it suits them, and if the margin makes it worthwhile, but let’s not kid ourselves that wild venison can deliver the consistency required. In many ways wild venison remains - and perhaps should remain - a quality, niche, product.
baguio
Well-Known Member
I keep hearing the consistency thing but personally have my doubts. The guys at the packaging plant can produce steaks of a certain size from anything. The trim can go into the mince pile. Butchers do it every day in front of us. You want a 200 gram steak and they will cut one off within a few grams of 200 regularly.
tikkathreebarrels
Well-Known Member
So all that guff about the public won't even consider game shot with lead? Nobody asked Tesco?
Agreed, but perhaps consider that - according the Office for National Statistics - over the last 25 years the number of independent butchers in the UK has reduced by 60% to approximately 6,000.
Also consider that, other than Morrisons, you typically don't see butcher's counters in UK supermarkets these days.
There's a good reason for this, much as we might personally regret it, in that the traditional model you describe simply doesn't scale for what the supermarkets require.
Supermarket supply chains work because they are built on scale. I know supermarkets who use software to predict the exact yield of each animal they buy. They need to know this because they can accurately predict what they are going to sell., even down to the fact that the coming weekend might be a scorcher so there will be a run on cuts suitable for a barbecue. For all of that to work you need consistency of input in terms of what comes in hanging on the rail.
Just my opinion though
baguio
Well-Known Member
No, I get that and I believe you. Surely the likes of Highland game know that they need to package a huge quantity is 250 gram muntjac steaks and all of the bits over that weight go to mince. They're getting it for next to nothing so their margins must be huge.Agreed, but perhaps consider that - according the Office for National Statistics - over the last 25 years the number of independent butchers in the UK has reduced by 60% to approximately 6,000.
Also consider that, other than Morrisons, you typically don't see butcher's counters in UK supermarkets these days.
There's a good reason for this, much as we might personally regret it, in that the traditional model you describe simply doesn't scale for what the supermarkets require.
Supermarket supply chains work because they are built on scale. I know supermarkets who use software to predict the exact yield of each animal they buy. They need to know this because they can accurately predict what they are going to sell., even down to the fact that the coming weekend might be a scorcher so there will be a run on cuts suitable for a barbecue. For all of that to work you need consistency of input in terms of what comes in hanging on the rail.
Just my opinion though
I’d be more concerned if the label stated, “died of natural causes”.
DG
Well, I think the challenge in particular with muntjac is that it is basically the same amount of work to butcher as a roe or fallow (and I doubt that much different to a sika or red) but for proportionately a far smaller yield. So whatever they are buying muntjac for they could get a much higher margin by processing the carcass of a bigger animal.
Much as I love muntjac venison, to the (currently) uneducated consumer they won't recognise the difference.
That is an interesting point, can Tesco sell game that contains lead if it’s imported?! If it’s imported from another country E.g. NZ it was never shot with lead in this country. What a potential massive loophole.
Don’t go shopping more than that it’s all witchcraftYep - bottom left on the second photo.
Didn’t know that - only an annual shopper when the wife’s away
Magnificent 7
Well-Known Member
Basc jumped onto it because the BGA owe them a small fortune and the want there cash back
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
Indeed! See the attached extract from the BDS site today (dated April):-
Many stalkers and deer managers may be unaware that some of the Approved Game Handling Establishments (AGHEs) have announced that with effect from August 2021 they will no longer buy venison shot with ammunition containing lead. Furthermore, the National Game Dealers Association (NGDA) announced that from 1st of July 2022 they will be lead free. Smaller game dealers are also likely to adopt a similar position, although at present carcases intended only for personal consumption by the stalker or their household are not subject to such restrictions.
This means that many stalkers who shoot higher numbers of deer and rely on an outlet for carcases have just three months to source and test a viable lead-free alternative, a task made all the more difficult due to misinformation and scepticism on social media.
It is stressed that there is as yet no legal requirement for deer to be shot using lead-free ammunition, and it is necessary to recognise that it is commercial forces that are largely driving the changes. However, the UK Government is considering a ban on lead ammunition as part of plans by the UK’s new chemical regulation regime, UK REACH.
The subject is certainly not straightforward and individual research on both appropriate ammunition and rifle calibre is important. In addition, lead-free ammunition is currently in short supply throughout the UK and, as a result, some stalkers may find it difficult to make a transition to lead-free ammunition by the August deadline.
The choice is between copper, gilding metal or brass (known as mono-metals), and the accepted wisdom is to adopt a lighter and faster bullet in order to achieve the same efficacy. The choice of the most suitable non-lead bullet for the quarry is another variable to be considered when selecting new ammunition.“
Worth noting by those who are not sure just where we are now in this ongoing saga! So unless you are into basically the commercial side of venison supply it is “as you were boys” with lead unless of course you know different…… Or supply Tescos?
Quite, I agree with you on this. Even 12 or so years ago, before this New Zealand import nonsense , when I could get £3 per kg for head or neck shot fallow , I still considered it an insult.
I wonder if it’s for ‘ consistency’ reasons that they are marketing and selling the op’s picture steaks as “ succulent and tender Venison steaks “ I mean what are they actually selling in that packet
is it Red deer? Fallow? Sika ? Doe ? Buck ? Hind or stag meat ? Did it come from Scotland England or New Zealand? All rather vague, like packing and labelling some chicken breasts as poultry steaks because sometimes it’s actually turkey meat in the packaging and other times it’s Guinea fowl and others it’s cockerel meat or whatever else they could find running about.The only times I used to take the £3 per Kg for my fallow deer was when I had far too much. Now at £0.50 per kg I rather give it away or use it as dog food as opposed to taking it to the Lame dealers. Just a bunch of chancers in my opinion.
kindest regards, Olaf
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