April 7, 2005

Beef consumption in the UK at record high

Beef consumption in the UK is reaching record levels last seen only in the 1980s. The Meat and Livestock commission reported consumption at 1,035,000 tonnes in 2004 compared with 1,015,000 in 2003.

Imports of processed beef products have doubled in the last two years while domestic production has also increased from 696,000 tonnes to 709,000 tonnes.

55 percent of imported meat into the UK comes from Ireland, with Brazil being the next largest source.