Now in its ninth year, the annual event spotlights beef produced in the UK, with this year’s themes focussing on its ‘positive’ impact on the environment and human health, and role in international dishes.
It will also raise money for farming charity the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), with help from butchers, farmers, restaurants and food outlets across the country.
Co-founder of Ladies in Beef – organisation of female beef famers - Jilly Greed, commented: “This year we’re championing that British beef is a very important part of the global diet, because of its quality, nutritional and environmental health benefits.
“At home, (Britain’s) multinational community has shared some of the most popular beef dishes that we love in Britain today.
“Multicultural influences have made an Italian lasagne, spaghetti Bolognese, French beef bourguignon or Hungarian goulash a staple part of menus. From further afield, Asia has given us beef Massaman or madras, and many other popular dishes.
“The beef in such meals can include British beef, whether eaten at home or abroad.
“We’d also like customers to know that British-farmed beef is good for the environment, with 47% of the UK’s many breeds of cattle managed on (the country’s) mountains, moorlands, marshlands and wetland meadows.
“This grassland increases the absorption of carbon from the atmosphere and has been grazed for thousands of years here, because livestock farming is an established part of our history.
“If we stopped grazing cattle and sheep in these areas and other permanent pasture, up to 60% of our agricultural land would be taken out of food production because it is not suitable for growing crops or vegetables.
“Beef is also a nutritionally valuable part of a balanced diet, as its naturally rich in protein, contains haem iron and provides eight vitamins and minerals which contribute towards good health and wellbeing.
“Let’s make sure that beef is known as an important and healthy part of the global diet.”
As well as supporting material from Ladies in Beef, Red Tractor assured beef will be promoted throughout the week with a number of international-themed recipes to encourage shoppers to try beef-based dishes.