EU ranchers challenge red meat advertising ban

Representatives of seven organizations that unite farmers and meat processors have addressed an open letter to EU Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski about the groundlessness of the ban on advertising of red meat, which is now being considered by the European Commission.

Representatives of the industry communities expressed the view that supporters of the ban distort the facts, equating meat with alcohol and tobacco, and exaggerate the negative impact of pastoralism on the environment. 

The letter says that throughout human history, animal meat has been an important component of the human diet and the main source of vitamin B12, which is important for metabolism.

Theses about the dangers of red meat for health do not refer to the product itself, but to the abuse of animal food or improper processing of raw materials, the signatories believe.

Under the condition of full purification, all the water used in the meat production process is returned to nature, and valuable fertilizers for crop production are obtained from the feces of farm animals - much more friendly to the soil than synthetic analogues.

Farmers are concerned that the ban will affect the well-being of all livestock farms, no matter how much effort and money they invest in protecting the environment.