British Game Week 25th Nov-1st Dec
Why you should eat game
It is Healthy
One of the
main benefits of eating game meat is that is it one of the most healthiest
meats available, very low in fat and cholesterol, game meat is lean as they are
wild and are able to walk and roam freely so do not store so much fat.
The fat that is in game meat is Omega 3 When you hear Omega-3, most
people will think of
Game is very high in Iron and contains higher levels of many beneficial
nutrients including vitamin E, Beta Carotene, Zinc Vitamin B6 and Selenium.
Selenium is an important part of our diet that we often lack and helps protect
cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Wild game is ideal for those following a Paleo approach to eating and
for those wishing to lose weight as it has fewer calories than other meats.
Venison is high in protein good for high protein diets
It is Wild and natural
Game meat is harvested from natural landscapes such as forests, farm
land and moorlands, which means their diet is natural. This diet gives game
meat its distinctive delicious taste.
It is Hormone additive free
All game is hormone free no growth hormones are added to their diets as
their diets are natural
Wild game such as venison, rabbit, pigeon and grouse are
antibiotic-free.
It is good for the countryside and wildlife
The game
industry does not shout enough about the conservation undertaken and its
positive effects on the ecology of our natural landscape
The wild game industry plays a fundamental role in managing the
populations of game in the UK; without the work of estates and the game
industry, populations would increase to unsustainable levels. It has
positive effects on the ecology of our natural landscape.
A huge amount of conservation work and management is undertaken to
ensure healthy and sustainable game. The management of deer ensures woodlands
including ancient woodland are not destroyed or damaged. On average five
species of wild flowers are found in unmanaged woodland. In woodland managed
for game an average 16 species can be found.
Crops sown to give game birds shelter and natural foods benefit other
wildlife including skylark, lapwing and corn bunting. This has soon an increase
in numbers of the birds
Moorland managed for the breeding of wild grouse gives it the famous
heather and purple colour. Rarer than rainforest, the UK has 75 per cent of
what is left of the globally recognised expanses. 860,000 acres of
heather moorland in England and Wales is managed for wild red grouse.
It has low carbon miles
As these animals are not intensively farmed and are often locally
sourced, the carbon footprint of the game industry is relatively small, with
very few miles from field to fork.
It is
delicious and tasty
Game meat is delicious venison is a great alternative to beef and makes
a great steak meal. Pheasant is like a tasty chicken and partridge is a great
meat to start you off with if you haven’t tried game before. Rabbit is growing
in popularity and makes great dishes.
Pigeon is stronger meat as it is rich with iron but goes well as a snack
in pitta bread or in a pea risotto. Grouse is another stronger tasting meat and
is known as the King of game birds.
It is easy to cook
Game meat is lean so it must not be overcooked, which means unless you
are using a tougher cut or planning a casserole it is quick to cook. So if you
are looking for quick recipes to cook during the week have a look at the recipe
pages. We also have some dinner party recipes and snacks.
It is versatile
Game meat is very versatile and venison can replace beef in most recipes
and rabbit pheasant and partridge can place chicken. Both will give you much tastier
dishes.
It is easy to buy
Game can be found at most farmers markets and even if your butcher does
not have it on his counter he can certainly get it for you so just ask.
There are several online suppliers now and supermarkets will have
venison and game birds in season. Just check that the venison is British a lot
of the supermarkets venison is from New Zealand.
What do we
class as game?
- Pheasant
- Partridge
- Grouse
- Rabbit
- Pigeon
- Hare
- Wild duck
- Wild Geese
- Snipe
- Woodcock
- Squirrel
- Venison
When shouldn’t we eat game?
The FSA’s advice since 2012 has been to minimise the risk of lead
intake, people who frequently eat lead-shot game, particularly small game,
should cut down their consumption. This is especially important for vulnerable
groups such as toddlers and children, pregnant women and women trying for a
baby
Not all game is shot with lead. Generally, the large game sold in
supermarkets is farmed and will have no or very low lead levels. The FSA’s
advice is not applicable to consumers of such meat.
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