Waitrose 10 Aberdeen Angus Beef Mince

IT is arguably the most famous breed of beef cattle in the world and the very name guarantees the quality of the red meat bought over the butcher's counter or pre-packed in supermarkets.

Yet Aberdeen Angus beef may not always be Scottish in origin, so are some retailers hiding that fact by using the name Aberdeen Angus rather than admit their beef is meat from other countries?

That is the question posed by a National reader who lives in London who has been following our Save Our Scotland Brand campaign.

The reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, is concerned that one major supermarket chain is not being entirely forthcoming about its Aberdeen Angus products.

He told The National: "Recently I asked Waitrose customer services via e-mail what was the country of origin of their Aberdeen Angus beef burgers. They replied with a screen shot stating that the Aberdeen Angus beef burgers are British, as they have a Union Jack shown in screen shot.

"I then emailed Waitrose asking, what is the burgers' country of origin within the UK, to which I did not receive a reply.

"I sent another email saying 'I have not heard from you regarding which country within the UK your Aberdeen Angus beef burgers are from. I would also like to know which country your other Aberdeen Angus products are from.'"

Waitrose replied with a website link about their beef – that website has a Union Flag ad coincidentally explaining about the firm's policy of "buying British" — which emphasises that the beef's country of origin is always UK.

The reader is well aware that Aberdeen Angus is a breed of cattle originating in Scotland. He added: "It is my understanding that the beef from Scotland is regarded as being the best due to climate and husbandry.

"The World Organisation for Animal Health recognises the BSE risk from beef raised in Scotland and Northern Ireland is at the safest level available — negligible risk. Whereas, I believe England and Wales continues to be recognised as having controlled risk BSE status."

The reader continued: "Since then I have seen in their magazine a description for their Aberdeen Angus mince as being 'meat from native Aberdeen Angus cattle'. I checked a packet of mince in store and this had same description.

"I realise that Aberdeen Angus is a breed of cow and I am not sure what 'native' means exactly when referring to cattle, but I suspect that Waitrose and other supermarkets are using the Union Jack and British label to distance any perception their customers may have with BSE and English beef. This I believe is unfair to Scottish farmers as it adversely affects them economically.

"On a separate but related topic when visiting restaurants in France and Germany I have noticed one of the highest priced dishes was Angus steaks from Ireland. I am sure a lot of people in Europe think Angus is somewhere in Ireland.

"I believe Scottish beef farmers and Scotland as a brand for other products is being adversely affected by the use of 'British' and the Union Jack.

A spokesperson for Waitrose said: "Our Aberdeen Angus must be sired by a pedigree Aberdeen Angus bull which is registered with the Aberdeen Angus society in Perth.

"We are involved in DNA identification work on both live animals and meat which ensures that the Aberdeen Angus we sell is proper Aberdeen Angus. The Aberdeen Angus on our service counters in Scotland is Scottish."

Their website adds: "The Aberdeen Angus is a native British breed, whose meat is naturally marbled with fat, making it exceptionally tender and full of flavour."

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Source: https://www.thenational.scot/news/15711761.national-reader-has-beef-over-origin-of-aberdeen-angus-in-waitrose/