Message Boards

Here in Poland veal is very popular. My mother-in-law said it is baby beef - a term which did not take off in the UK, but was used in Autralia some years ago. It is not white like the attrocious and inhumane Italian stuff. It is more like pork.

That information is out of date as Mary says, it says on the website it is 2003. British veal is produced in a different way now and it is not white anymore it is pink which is due to the more humane way the animal is reared during it's short life.

i love veal, and British in my opinion is best and most butchers should be pleased to answer any questions on where, why and how any meat is reared that they sell these days, its a very common practise abroad.But like most things it really is about how you personally feel as to what you eat and why.

I think that info might be out of date Spadge. I believe veal is humanely produced these days. I don't eat meat anyway so I shouldn't really be putting my oar in here.

I've just read this (see link below) so I'll never eat veal.

[link]

May I suggest that you all read The River Cottage Meat Book by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. He explains with great clarity and compassion the dilema facing livestock farmers on this issue.
When you've done that, buy a half-kilo piece of veal fillet and make a divine Vitello Tonnato. If you would like my recipe just ask.

try your local butcher,mine here in dorset had it last week.might go in and see if they`ve got some more in fancy trying it now.
aime

Please can anyone tell me where I can buy veal from?

Thanks

Teresa

Here in Spain, veal is more readily available than beef. I don't buy it a lot because we're not great beef eaters. What I do buy a lot is calves liver and kidneys, they are beautifully tender and melt in the mouth.
Linda )

I am sure one of the chefs on GFL did veal a few weeks ago, could have been Ross but I'm not sure, but when Jeni queried using veal, he did say that British veal was now produced under much better conditions.

Thats for this, I think I will check out Sainsburys and see where their Veal comes from.
xxxx

I think British veal is Ok as they have regulated the way the animals are brought up. However. I think veal from some European countries should be questioned as the treatment of the calves can still be questioned. I would go British and ask the butcher where the animal came from.

I really don't know about the Sainsburys veal Claire. A few years ago you couldn't buy veal in supermarkets for love nor money so I swapped to buying the pork fillet. Therefore, I've never looked for veal since but I guess if Sainsburys are stocking it again then it probably means they have been reared in a humane manner. I shouldn't think any large supermarket would risk the backlash if this wasn't the case as the market for veal can't that huge.

Day is very dull Lesley so looking forward to a can of worms (in the nicest possible way).
My father in law eats it whenever we go out for dinner, but I have never really known whether to try it or not. I saw veal escalopes on sainsburys meat counter last night, they were taste the difference range, does that mean that they have been reared well?

Ah now, what a can of worms you might have opened Claire! Personally, I eat veal whenever I get the opportunity - however, this is usually in restaurants. I haven't been able to buy veal to cook at home for ages. However, I must say that any recipe that calls for veal usually works just as well with fillet of pork.