Eating lean red meat three to four times a week is recommended by nutritionists for a healthy balanced diet. Australian beef, promoted using the True Aussie Beef branding & logo in international markets, fits the bill completely and deliciously. It’s easy and convenient to buy and cook and there’s no better time than now for a beef-up experience.
Beef has many nutritional benefits and is an essential part of a healthy diet for the family, especially for children. Red meat is a great source of protein, iron, zinc and other essential nutrients.
Australian beef -- grass-fed, grain-fed, organic and breed-specific products like Wagyu and Angus -- can be enjoyed in different meat cuts and in a variety of cooking styles. Most Australian cattle are raised on open pasture, and Australian grass-fed beef is naturally low in fat and cholesterol, while offering a higher level of Omega 3 fatty acids.
The Australian red meat industry has a global reputation as a supplier of clean, safe and natural products, underpinned by its disease-free status and advanced food safety and integrity systems.
MLA recently launched “Red Meat, Green Facts” (
https://www.redmeatgreenfacts.com.au/) at Beef Australia 2021. It’s a “fast-facts‟ producer pocket guide and online resource providing important information about cattle, sheep and goat production in Australia, with a particular focus on animal welfare, protecting the environment and health and nutrition.
MLA invests in food safety research and development (R&D) projects across the value chain to support market access for the Australian red meat industry by enhancing product integrity and traceability from paddock to plate.
Beef plays an important role in the Malaysian diet, especially among Muslim consumers. Australian beef imported into Malaysia is Halal compliant, adhering to strict standards required for producing Halal meat and meat products, with the involvement and expertise of Islamic organisations to supervise and certify the production processes.
Australia is the second largest beef supplier to Malaysia, with a market share of approximately 12%. It is also the biggest supplier of chilled beef, accounting for almost 90% of the country’s chilled beef imports.
Australian Beef is widely available in major supermarkets and hypermarkets throughout the country. The different cuts of beef are in convenient and hygienic packs with the True Aussie Beef logo on it.
According to the MLA Global Consumer Tracker Malaysia, 2020, Malaysia has comparatively high per capita beef consumption of about 7kg per person a year, compared to the average of 5.4kg in the region. Australian beef is the favourite meat for many Malaysian families, especially among those with middle to high-income. Australian beef is also believed to offer the highest quality steak, with 40% of affluent Malaysians indicating it would be the first choice for their next beef purchase.
The True Aussie Beef Up campaign shares nutritious and practical recipes using Australian beef. Consumers not only are able to enjoy beef steaks and dishes made from Australian beef from participating restaurants or buy the Australian beef from retailers to cook at home, they could also join a contest as part of the Great Aussie Beef Escape promotion to be held from mid-July to mid-August.
Red Meat, Green Facts -- Nutrition
Iron
Red meat is a great source of iron which is important for brain function, well-being and immunity. To get the same amount of iron that’s in 100g of cooked beef, you would need to eat a half kg of spinach. According to Nutrition Australia, the form of iron in red meat is easily absorbed.
Zinc
Zinc from red meat is easily absorbed, it’s important for healthy bone development, fertility and immunity.
Omega-3
Red meat is a good source of omega-3 since Australian beef and lamb are predominantly grass-fed.
Essential nutrients
Red meat is naturally rich in protein and provides 12 essential vitamins and minerals – iron, zinc, omega-3, magnesium, selenium, niacin, potassium, phosphorous, Vitamins B5, B6 and B12. These are important for brain function, muscle development and function, immunity and energy.
Lean red meat fat content
Lean red meat has a lower fat content than chicken. Trimmed of separable fat, lean beef has an average 2.7g fat per 100g raw weight while skinless chicken is 3.5g.
Green Facts
- Halved GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emission since 2005
- Grazing livestock remove greenhouse gas from the air by stimulating plant growth which speeds up absorption of carbon dioxide from the air into carbon in plants and soil.
- Methane from cattle breaks down into carbon dioxide after 10-12 years which is recycled by soil and plants that cattle, sheep and goats eat.
