Australian sausages sales seen to increase

Sydney butchers are seeing booming sales of sausages, with reports allocating the increase to the fact that they are convenient for children who cannot chew proper meat.

Australian Meat Industry Council's retail section in New South Wales chairman Ron Stapleton said sausages would be 25 percent of business by value.

According to Stapleton, sales of rissoles, burgers and plain, cooking mince - for dishes such as spaghetti bolognese, "the most popular meat meal in Australia" - would increase that figure to 40 percent.

He further stated that mince based meals are not only seen as value in times of recession but they are also convenient, nutritional and, most important, attractive to children.

The rise in sales coincides with a national TV campaign which promotes the versatility of mince, planned six months ago by the meat industry council.

The state's 800 independent butchers may experience a drop in sales of more expensive meat cuts such as Scotch fillet, at up to US$40 a kilogramme, but they hope the loss will be offset by a rise in business as more people are doing home cooking.