Cyprus-Forum.com

[Svetlana]

Backlash after budget supermarket Lidl launches reindeer meat for Christmas

A discount supermarket chain has been accused of destroying the magic of Christmas after putting reindeer steaks on its shelves.
Lidl, which has more than 500 shops in Britain, is the first multiple grocery retailer in the UK to introduce reindeer meat in the run-up to the festive season.
The frozen steaks, which cost £5.99 for a 350g pack, were launched this week under its premium Deluxe label.
Festive fare: Lidl has started serving frozen reindeer steaks at its 500 stores in the UK
But campaign group Viva! has slammed Lidl for selling the meat, claiming reindeer are often herded in cruel ways.
Campaigns manager Justin Kerswell told trade magazine The Grocer: 'Lidl is destroying the magic of Christmas by selling dead reindeer.
'What they term "luxury cuisine" belies the truth behind an industry that exists to exploit wild animals.
'Reports show that up to 70 per cent of reindeer killed for meat are calves.'
Mr Kerswell said that Siberian reindeer were often herded by snowmobile, motorbikes and even helicopters, which causes the animals high levels of stress.
'This and lassooing them cause huge distress. They can become so distraught their muscle can waste away,' he said.
Delicacy: Campaign group Viva! has said some reindeer are herded by snow mobile or even helicopter, causing them to become stressed
According to research in the Polar Research journal, the numbers of reindeer in Siberia has declined dramatically since the post-Soviet era.
Mr Kerswell added: 'Commercialising reindeer in the West may put numbers under further risk.'
Lidl has defended the sale and said that the meat it came from reindeer fed on 'local aromatic herbs and grass'.
A spokesman told the magazine: 'They live in their natural habitat and have plenty of space to move around.'

The store chain is also selling pheasant, venison and springbok in a bid to capitalise on its premium appeal.

It has signed up celebrity chefs Lesley Waters and Nick Nairn to produce weekly recipe cards in the run-up to Christmas.

[Get Real!]

Lidl to sell Mouflon meat in Cyprus...?

Surely not the national insignia!

[kurupetos]

Isn't that illegal?

[CBBB]

They are going to slaughter the symbol of Cyprus Airways??? Whatever next, Cyprus Airways itself?

Hang on a minute, they are going to do that anyway!

[Raymanoff]

i would love to try that...

[Gasman]

I remember reindeer steaks being on sale in Safeways in the UK many years ago. They had an 'international range' included wild boar, snow hare, suckling pig, and reindeer (and I'm sure I've seen kangaroo too!)

This was about 15 yrs ago.

[Get Real!]

There was a similar furor back when I was in Australia when someone attempted to market Koala meat and the Aussies just went berserk!

Although for some reason Skippy is fair game and to be found in many shops…

[Gasman]

They probably got it stopped. Just reading that two years ago Ikea was under fire from vegetarian activists for selling reindeer meat!

And that other places sell it and just call it 'venison'.

Info about the campaigns to end the sale of Kangaroo and other 'exotics' here

http://www.viva.org.uk/campaigns/exoticmeat/index.htm

[CBBB]

Bloody animal rights activists trying to rule the world again! Where can I order a dozen of that NON-endangered species, Ambelopoulia?

[Get Real!]

I should mention that Skippys were in great abundance and had become a pest in many areas so they had professional hunters being flown over them in choppers, and they would take them out by the droves with a singe shot, and then a truck would follow the trail and collect the dead animals to be sent to the slaughter house!