Meat 18940 225898805 2008-07-15T22:38:49Z Okiefromokla 5736838 /* Nutritional benefits and concerns */ + pounds conversion {{otheruses}} [[Image:FoodMeat.jpg|thumb|right|Varieties of Meat]] [[Image:Meat on a barbecue.jpg|right|thumb|Various kinds of meat being cooked on a [[grill]].]] '''Meat''', in its broadest definition, is [[food]]. In modern English usage, most often it refers to [[animal]] [[biological tissue|tissue]] used as food, mostly [[skeletal muscle]] and associated [[fat]], but it may also refer to [[offal|organs]], including [[lung]]s, [[liver]]s, [[skin]], [[brain]]s, [[bone marrow]], [[kidney]]s, and a variety of other internal organs as well as blood. The word ''meat'' is also used by the meat [[packing]] and butchering industry in a more restrictive sense - the flesh of [[mammal]]ian species (pigs, cattle, etc.) raised and butchered for human consumption, to the exclusion of [[fish (food)|fish]], [[poultry]], and [[egg (food)|egg]]s. [[Egg (food)|Egg]]s and [[seafood]] are rarely referred to as ''meat'' even though they consist of animal tissue. Animals that consume only, or mostly animals are called [[carnivore]]s. Through most of human history, individual families of humans hunted, raised, and slaughtered animals for their meat, and later, as [[civilization]]s developed, priests and temple assistants performed the functions of slaughtering and [[butcher]]ing animals for food in [[animal sacrifice]]. Today, in most industrialized nations, a [[meat packing industry]] [[slaughterhouse|slaughters]], [[food processing|processes]], and [[food distribution|distributes]] meat for human consumption. ==Etymology== The word ''meat'' comes from the [[Old English]] word ''mete'', which referred to food in general. ''Mad'' in [[Danish language|Danish]], ''mat'' in [[Swedish language|Swedish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], and ''matur'' in [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]], still mean 'food'. The narrower sense that refers to meat as not including fish, developed over the past few hundred years and has religious influences. The distinction between fish and "meat" is codified by Jewish laws of ''kashrut'' regarding the mixing of milk and meat, which does not forbid the mixing of milk and fish. Modern ''halakha'' (Jewish law) on ''kashrut'' classifies the flesh of both mammals and birds as "meat"; fish are considered to be ''parve'' (also spelled ''parev'', ''pareve''; Yiddish: פארעוו parev), neither meat nor a dairy food. The Catholic dietary restriction to "meat" on Fridays also does not apply to the cooking and eating of fish. {{wiktionarypar|meat}} The Latin word ''[[wikt:caro#Latin|carō]]'' "meat" (also the root of 'carnal', referring to the 'pleasures of the flesh') is often a [[euphemism]] for sexual pleasure, which is, after all, effected from a function performed by fleshy organs. Thus 'meat' may refer to the human body in a sensual, or sexual, capacity. A ''[[meat market]]'', which, in addition to simply denoting a [[market]] where meat is sold, also refers to a place or situation where humans are treated or viewed as [[commodity|commodities]], especially a place known as one where a sexual partner may be found. This connotation has also existed for at least 500 years.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} 'Meat' may also be used in a humorous or indifferent way to refer to a human. The military [[slang]] phrase "[[meat shield]]", refers to soldiers sent in front of an enemy to draw fire away from another unit. The theme of hostile, or simply [[misanthropic]] [[robot]]s referring to humans with disparaging terms such as "meatbag" is popular in science fiction (see: [[Bender (Futurama)|Bender]], [[HK-47]]). ==Methods of preparation== Meat is prepared in many ways, as [[steak]]s, in [[stew]]s, [[fondue]], or as [[dried meat]]. It may be ground then formed into patties (as [[hamburgers]] or croquettes), loaves, or [[sausage]]s, or used in loose form (as in "sloppy joe" or [[Bolognese sauce]]). Some meat is cured, by [[smoking (food)|smoking]], [[pickling]], preserving in [[salt]] or [[brine]] (see [[salted meat]] and [[curing]]). Other kinds of meat are [[marinade|marinated]] and [[barbecue]]d, or simply boiled, [[roasting|roasted]], or [[frying|fried]]. Meat is generally eaten cooked, but there are many traditional recipes that call for raw beef, veal or fish. Meat is often spiced or seasoned, as in most sausages. Meat dishes are usually described by their source (animal and part of body) and method of preparation. Meat is a typical base for making [[sandwich]]es. Popular varieties of sandwich meat include [[ham]], [[pork]], [[salami]] and other sausages, and [[beef]], such as [[steak]], [[roast beef]], [[corned beef]], and [[pastrami]]. Meat can also be molded or pressed (common for products that include [[offal]], such as [[haggis]] and [[scrapple]]) and [[canning|canned]]. ==Nutritional benefits and concerns== {| class="wikitable" align="right" style="margin-left:1em" |+'''Typical Meat Nutritional Content <br/>from 110 grams (4&nbsp;oz or .25&nbsp;lb)''' |- ! style="background:#aaaaff;" align="center" | '''Source''' ! style="background:#ddddff;" align="center" | '''calories''' ! style="background:#ddddff;" align="center" | '''protein''' ! style="background:#ddddff;" align="center" | '''carbs''' ! style="background:#ddddff;" align="center" | '''fat''' |- ! style="background:#ccccff;" align="left" | fish | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 110&ndash;140 | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 20&ndash;25&nbsp;g | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 0&nbsp;g | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 1&ndash;5&nbsp;g |- ! style="background:#ccccff;" align="left" | chicken breast | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 160 | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 28&nbsp;g | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 0&nbsp;g | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 7&nbsp;g |- ! style="background:#ccccff;" align="left" | lamb | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 250 | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 30&nbsp;g | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 0&nbsp;g | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 14&nbsp;g |- ! style="background:#ccccff;" align="left" | steak (beef) | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 275 | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 30&nbsp;g | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 0&nbsp;g | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 18&nbsp;g |- ! style="background:#ccccff;" align="left" | T-bone | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 450 | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 25&nbsp;g | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 0&nbsp;g | style="background:#ffffff;" align="center" | 35&nbsp;g |} :''Further information: [[Nutrition]], [[Foodborne illness]], [[Red meat#Health effects of eating red meat|Health concerns associated with red meat]]'' All [[muscle]] tissue is very high in [[protein]], containing all of the [[essential amino acid]]s, and in most cases, is a good source of [[zinc]], [[vitamin B12]], [[selenium]], [[phosphorus]], [[niacin]], [[vitamin B6]], [[iron]] and [[riboflavin]].<ref>http://www.beef.org/uDocs/whatyoumisswithoutmeat638.pdf</ref> However, meat tends to be high in [[fat]] (red meat in particular), low in [[carbohydrate]]s, and contains no [[dietary fiber|fiber]].<ref>[http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09333.html Dietary Fiber<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/hc/healthtips/03/meatless.cfm Meatless Diet<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The fat content of meat can vary widely depending on the [[species]] and [[breed]] of animal, the way in which the animal was raised, including what it was fed, the [[anatomy|anatomical]] part of the body, and the methods of butchering and cooking. Wild animals such as [[deer]] are typically leaner than farm animals, leading those concerned about fat content to choose [[Game (food)|game]] such as [[venison]]. However, centuries of breeding meat animals for size and fatness is being reversed by consumer demand for meat with less fat. In recent years, the health benefits of meat as a regular part of the human diet have come into question. In a large-scale study, the consumption of red meat over a lifetime was found to raise the risk of cancer by 20 to 60 percent, while causing adverse mutations in DNA.<ref name="PLoS"/> In particular, red meat and processed meat were found to be associated with higher risk of cancers of the [[lung cancer|lung]], esophagus, liver, and [[colon cancer|colon]], among others.<ref name="PLoS"> {{cite journal | last = Cross | first = Amanda | title = A Prospective Study of Red and Processed Meat Intake in Relation to Cancer Risk | journal = PLoS Medicine | volume = 4 | issue = 12 | publisher = the Public Library of Science | doi = 10.1371/journal.pmed.0040325 | year = 2007 | pages = e325 }} </ref> Animal fat is one of the only dietary sources of [[saturated fat]],<ref>[http://www.nutristrategy.com/nutritioninfo2.htm Nutrients, Vitamins, Minerals and Dietary Information<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> which has been linked to various health problems. The saturated fat found in meat has been associated with significantly raised risks of [[colon cancer]],<ref>http://newsmine.org/content.php?ol=nature-health/health/cancer/eating-red-meat-increases-risk-of-colon-cancer.txt</ref> [[prostate cancer]],<ref>http://www.britishmeat.com/prostate.htm</ref> [[breast cancer]],<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/daily/15/health_cancer.htm</ref> and [[osteoporosis]].<ref>http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Nov96/osteoporosis.ssl.html</ref><ref>http://www.johnleemd.com/store/prevent_osteporosis.html</ref><ref>http://www.herballegacy.com/Osteoporosis.html</ref> Meat has been linked to increased risk of [[heart disease]]<ref>http://www.webmd.com/content/article/43/1671_50411</ref> and [[diabetes]],<ref name="2008 diabetes study"/> with the risks of heart disease being three times greater for 45-64 year old men who eat meat daily, versus those who are vegetarian, according to one survey.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6527990</ref> A large-scale study in 2008 also found that eating two or more servings of meat a day increases the risk of suffering from excessive fat around the waist, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure by 25 percent compared to those who had two servings of meat a week or less.<ref>http://www.healthylivingtalk.com/pass-on-meat-and-soda-to-avoid-heart-disease-according-to-study/</ref><ref name="2008 diabetes study">http://www.chiroeco.com/news/chiropractic-news.php?id=332</ref> One famous study, the [[Nurses' Health Study]], followed about 100,000 female nurses and their eating habits. Nurses who ate the largest amount of animal fat were twice as likely to develop [[Colorectal cancer|colon cancer]] as the nurses who ate the least amount of animal fat.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9C0CE1DA1630F930A25751C1A966958260&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes+Topics%2FOrganizations%2FA%2FAmerican+Cancer+Society</ref> In response to changing prices as well as health concerns about saturated fat and cholesterol, consumers have altered their consumption of various meats. [http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/foodreview/jan1996/frjan96f.pdf A USDA report] points out that consumption of [[beef]] in the [[United States]] between 1970&ndash;1974 and 1990&ndash;1994 dropped by 21%, while consumption of [[chicken]] increased by 90%. During the same period of time, the price of chicken dropped by 14% relative to the price of beef. In 1995 and 1996, beef consumption increased due to higher supplies and lower prices. Meat, like any food, can also transmit certain [[disease]]s, but undercooked meat is especially susceptible. Undercooked pork sometimes contains the [[parasite]]s that cause [[trichinosis]] or [[cysticercosis]]<ref>[http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/trichinosis/factsht_trichinosis.htm Trichinellosis Fact Sheet | Division of Parasitic Diseases | CDC<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/cysticercosis/factsht_cysticercosis.htm Division of Parasitic Diseases - Cysticercosis Fact Sheet<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Chicken is often contaminated with ''[[Salmonella enterica]]''<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=15095196&cmd=showdetailview&indexed=google Chicken consumption is a newly identified risk fac...[Clin Infect Dis. 2004&#93; - PubMed Result<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> disease-causing [[bacteria]]. Minced beef can be contaminated during slaughter with disease-causing [[Escherichia coli O157:H7]] deriving from the [[intestinal]] tract if proper precautions are not taken.<ref name=Karch_2005>{{cite journal | author = Karch H, Tarr P, Bielaszewska M | title = Enterohaemorrhagic ''Escherichia coli'' in human medicine. | journal = Int J Med Microbiol | volume = 295 | issue = 6-7 | pages = 405–18 | year = 2005 | pmid = 16238016}}</ref> == Red meat and white meat == [[Red meat]] is darker-coloured meat, as contrasted with [[white meat]]. The exact definition varies, but the meat of adult mammals, such as [[beef]], [[mutton]], and [[horse meat|horse]] is invariably considered "red", while domestic [[chicken]] and [[rabbit]] are invariably considered "white". ==Ethics of eating meat== {{main|Ethics of eating meat}} [[Image:Processedmeat.jpg|right|thumb|Processed meat in American grocery store]] Ethical issues regarding the consumption of meat can include objections to the act of killing animals or the [[intensive agriculture|agricultural practices]] surrounding the [[animal husbandry|production]] of meat. Reasons for objecting to the practice of killing animals for consumption may include [[animal rights]], [[environmental ethics]], religious doctrine, or an aversion to inflicting [[pain]] or harm on other [[life|living creatures]]. The religion of [[Jainism]] has always opposed eating meat, and there are also many schools of [[Buddhism]] and [[Hinduism]] that condemn the eating of meat. Some people, while not [[vegetarians]], refuse to eat the flesh of certain animals due to cultural [[taboo]], such as cats, dogs, horses, or rabbits. In some cases, specific meats (especially from pigs and cows) are forbidden within religious traditions. Some people eat only the flesh of animals who they believe have not been mistreated, and abstain from the meat of animals reared in [[factory farms]] or from particular products such as [[foie gras]] and [[veal]]. Others believe that the treatment which animals undergo in the production of meat and animal products obliges them never to eat meat or use animal products. ===In vitro and imitation meat=== :''Main articles: [[Imitation meat]], [[In vitro meat]]'' Various forms of [[imitation meat]] have been created to satisfy some [[vegetarians]]' and [[veganism|vegan]]'s taste for the flavor and texture of meat, there is also some speculation about the possibility of growing [[in vitro meat]] from animal tissue. Nutrition wise, imitation meat is comparable to animal meat, however they rarely contain the same levels of saturated fat and can often contain valuable minerals and vitamins while still containing approximately the same levels of protein as animal meats.<ref>[http://sparkpeople.com/resource/food_lists_meats.asp Nutritional Information Comparison for Meat<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Environmental impact== {{Main|Environmental effects of meat production}} The use of large industrial [[monoculture]] that is common in industrialised agriculture, typically for feed crops such as [[maize|corn]] and [[soybeans|soy]] is more damaging to [[ecosystem]]s than more sustainable farming practices such as [[organic farming]], [[permaculture]], [[Arable land|arable]], [[pastoral]], and rain-fed [[agriculture]]. Animals fed on grain and those which rely on grazing need more water than grain crops.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3559542.stm BBC News - Hungry world 'must eat less meat' by Alex Kirby</ref> According to the [[United States Department of Agriculture|USDA]], growing crops for farm animals requires nearly half of the [[United States|U.S.]] water supply and 80% of its agricultural land. Animals raised for food in the U.S. consume 90% of the soy crop, 80% of the corn crop, and 70% of its grain.<ref>{{cite journal | quotes = | author = Marlow Vesterby, Kenneth Krupa | date = | year = 2001 | month = August | title = Major Uses of Land in the United States, 1997. | journal = Statistical Bulletin | volume = | issue = 973 | pages = | publisher = Resource Economics Division, Economic Research Service, [[United States Department of Agriculture]] | location = 1800 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-5831 | issn = | doi = | bibcode = | oclc = | id = | url = http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/sb973/sb973.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2007-11-26 | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote = }}</ref> In tracking food animal production from the feed through to the dinner table, the inefficiencies of meat, [[milk]] and [[Egg (food)|egg]] production range from a 4:1 energy input to protein output ratio up to 54:1.<ref>[http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Aug97/livestock.hrs.html U.S. could feed 800 million people with grain that livestock eat]</ref> The result is that producing animal-based food is typically much less efficient than the harvesting of grains, vegetables, [[legume]]s, seeds and fruits, though this might not be largely true for animal husbandry in parts of the [[developing world]] where factory farming is almost non existent, making animal based food much more sustainable. ==See also== {{portal|Food}} *[[Slaughterhouse]] *[[Bushmeat]] *[[Livestock]]/[[Domestication]] *[[Food science]] *[[Gristle]] *[[Hormonal meat]] *[[List of meat animals]] *[[Culinary name]] *[[Vegetarianism]]/[[Veganism]]/[[Ethics of eating meat]] *[[Sinew]] *[[Red meat]]/[[White meat]] ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commonscat|Meats}} {{cookbook}} *[http://www.meatscience.org/ American Meat Science Association website] *[http://www.qualitionary.eu/index.php?title=Meat Qualitionary - Legal Definitions - Meat] [[Category:Meat|*]] [[Category:Meat processing|Meat]] {{Link FA|es}} [[af:Vleis]] [[ar:لحم]] [[gn:So'o]] [[bs:Meso]] [[bg:Месо]] [[ca:Carn]] [[cs:Maso]] [[cy:Cig]] [[da:Kød]] [[de:Fleisch]] [[es:Carne]] [[eo:Viando]] [[fr:Viande]] [[gv:Feill]] [[gd:Feòil]] [[gl:Carne]] [[ko:고기]] [[hr:Meso]] [[id:Daging]] [[is:Kjöt]] [[it:Carne]] [[he:בשר (מזון)]] [[sw:Nyama]] [[ku:Goşt]] [[la:Caro]] [[lt:Mėsa]] [[hu:Hús]] [[ms:Daging]] [[nl:Vlees]] [[ja:肉]] [[no:Kjøtt]] [[nn:Kjøtt]] [[nrm:Chai]] [[pl:Mięso]] [[pt:Carne]] [[ro:Carne]] [[qu:Aycha]] [[ru:Мясо]] [[scn:Carni]] [[simple:Meat]] [[ss:Inyama]] [[sk:Mäso]] [[sl:Meso]] [[sr:Месо]] [[fi:Liha]] [[sv:Kött]] [[tl:Karne]] [[ta:இறைச்சி]] [[tg:Гӯшт]] [[tr:Et]] [[uk:М'ясо]] [[yi:פלייש]] [[zh-yue:肉類]] [[zh:肉类食物]]