Whether it is steak, roast or mince, beef is as popular as ever according to a new YouGov poll, carried out ahead of this year’s Great British Beef Week.
83 per cent of meat eaters said beef’s a versatile meat which can be used in lots of different recipes. When asked for their favourite dish, steak proved the top meal for the 18-25s (35 per cent) followed by spaghetti bolognaise, while roast beef was the number one choice of the 55 and overs (34 per cent).
The YouGov poll also looked at attitudes towards health. Just over half of respondents who eat meat (54 per cent) agreed that beef is good for you.
This year’s Great British Beef Week kicks off on April 23, St George’s Day, It’s organised by Ladies in Beef and celebrates all that’s good about British beef while raising funds for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I) which helps those in difficulty in the farming industry.
NFU livestock board Chairman Charles Sercombe said: “It comes as no surprise to me that British Red Tractor assured beef remains as popular as it always has. We know the public want to eat more British produce and that provenance is important to them. And as the results of the YouGov poll reveal, beef is incredibly versatile, from large roasting joints for Sunday lunch to a lovely juicy steak. Beef production provides a wealth of public goods, through environmental benefits, maintaining the British countryside and forming part of the farming backbone of rural communities.
“UK beef farmers, like much of the farming industry, have faced some tough times in the past 12 months, not least because of the decline of the suckler herd. Ahead of the election, it’s important to highlight the need for the next government and the food industry to ensure we have more long term investment and that efforts are made to reduce the regulatory burden that stifles the livestock sector. Consumer and retailer support will be critical if we are to see the right market signals for beef farmers to invest and reverse the current decline in cow numbers.
“Great British Beef Week is the perfect opportunity for livestock farmers to showcase their fantastic product and for the public to show their support for the industry. I’d urge everyone to back British farming by buying Red Tractor assured British beef and adding your name to the thousands of people who already say: Great British Food gets My Vote.”
