Processed Meat

PROCESSED MEAT

  • Out of the total meat produced in our country, less than 3% of the meat produced is sold as processed meat. In developed countries 65-80% of the meat produced is sold in the processed form.
  • Under MFPO 1973, 220 licensed manufacturers produce 22,000 tonnes of processed meat comprising 50% of cured products, 20% sausages and 20% canned products.
  • Lately, however, Indian dynamics is changing in favour of processed meat products especially in metropolis and big cities.
  • The retail butcher shops sell most of the meat produced in the country to the consumers as fresh hot meat (unchilled).
  • This meat is then cooked in the households in many different ways depending on their taste and preferences.
  • The production of processed meat products in the organised sector got a fillip with the establishment of bacon factories in the Fourth Plan.
  • These bacon factories stimulated the establishment of many processing units in those areas.
  • Several traditional meat products like meat kabab, chicken biryani, tandoori chicken, meat curry, etc., are popular in the non-vegetarian population for a long time.
  • Some other foods products adopted in meat like meat samosa, meat tikka, meat kofta, meat balls, cutlets, meat pickles, etc., have been able to create an impact on the urban consumer.
  • Various region-specific meat products like Nihari (Delhi), Goa sausage (Goa), Pork pickle (Himachal Pradesh), Yakini and Gustaba (Kashmir), Rapka (Arunachal Pradesh), etc., have good acceptability in their traditional consumers. Western type meat products like cured ham, bacon, sausages, frankfurters, hot dogs, meat patties/burgers, luncheon meat and loaves, liver paste, etc., have good demand in cities. Eight bacon factories, five meat corporations and a fairly good number of MFPO licensees in private sector have taken up the production of a wide range of these products. They are catering to the requirements of defence, restaurants and household consumers. Canned meat products are relatively new entrants in the domestic market and are primarily being manufactured for defence supplies.
  • The prices of canned meats are comparatively high rendering them beyond the reach of common consumers, although their presence can be noticed in the departmental stores in the metropolitan cities.
  • Processed meat products are poised for continuous growth in the country. In big cities, there is an ever increasing demand for ‘heat and serve’ and ‘ready to eat’ convenience or fast foods. These are delicious, nutritious and if required, easy to carry home.
  • The growth of fast food parlours and restaurants is attributed to the rapid urbanization, changing life styles and rapid increase  in the number of  working women .
  • It may be pointed out that increase in consumption of value added processed meat products are closely linked with increase in disposable income and growth of urbanization.
  • Thus, convenience type meat products are going to have spectacular growth in the coming years. Due to nutritional awareness and liberal food habits of the newer generation, the adoption of western type products with indigenous flavour profiles is bound to take place at a rapid rate. We must strive to export processed meat products rather than live animals and fresh meat. There is a need to study the consumption pattern of meat products in importing countries, so that we can tailor our products according to their requirements.
  • A shift from primary products to value added products besides fetching more profits would decrease the transportation cost and generates more employment. It will also encourage more efficient utilisation of meat by-products. 
Last modified: Monday, 17 October 2011, 10:51 AM