guardian food and drink, 14/03/2011
original > http://t.co/fNLFXHy
An alarming 17 per cent of adults think pigs can fly.
Or rather, their knowledge of butchery is so poor
that they believe pork wings exist as a cut of meat.
A survey has revealed the ignorance of many people when it comes to butcher's shops, once a part of people's weekly or even daily shop.
Not only did some think pig wings existed, nearly two in ten thought tofu ribs were a cut of meat, and a leg of liver was something you could buy.
As many as 23 per cent thought a chicken chop or a lamb drumstick was a product they could pick up in a supermarket or a butcher's shop.
The survey of a 1,000 adults – all of them meat eaters – was conducted on behalf of National Butchers' Week.
Ed Beddington, the editor of Meat Trades Journal, which organises the annual event, said: "The idea of flying bacon might seem appealing to some, but it's quite frightening how limited consumer knowledge on meat is. Despite the constant barrage of foodie-style television shows, we seem to be going backwards when it comes to basic food knowledge."
The results also showed how the slow by steady decline in butchers has changed consumers' shopping habits, with 38 per cent of people saying that there was no longer a butcher close enough to their hoes and 41 per cent saying they found their local butcher's too expensive. Many are now unable to compete with supermarkets, which can consistently offer low prices.
In the last decade more than 2,000 butchers have gone out of business, according to figures compiled by IGD, the market research company, which specialises in tracking the food industry.
Charlie Shaw, manager of the Ginger Pig butcher’s in London’s Borough Market, said: “We’re a nation of meat lovers but it’s heartbreaking that many people have a lack of basic knowledge about the different cuts of meat available and how to prepare them because they’re missing out on some delicious meals."
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