Consumer attitudes towards meat consumption in Spain with special reference to quality marks and kid meat

Abstract

The consumption of meat in Spain is higher than the EU average. In 2008, meat consumption was 65.3 kg per capita, with fresh meat accounting for 48.9 kg, of which only 5.6 kg was quality certified. Meat consumption is higher in the north of Spain than in the south. Consumption of poultry (16.1 kg per capita) and pork (14.1 kg per capita) is predominantly as fresh meat. In 2008, the consumption of lamb/kid meat (sheep and goat are combined in the statistics) was only 3.4 kg per capita. Lamb/kid meat is considered expensive (6.8 on a scale from 0 to 10), and is eaten with family and on special occasions. The main reason it is purchased is its taste. Consumers think (53.4%) that Spanish production of lamb/kid meat is environmentally friendly. In the case of kid meat, the estimated consumption is 0.5 kg per capita. Spanish goat stocks (the second-largest in the EU, after Greece) are mainly in the south, but the highest consumption of kid meat is in the north-east. However, there is no Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for kid meat, only a regional quality mark has been registered. A consumer test was carried out in Seville (southern Spain) to ascertain consumers’ opinions where there is no tradition of kid meat consumption. The effect of breed, carcass weight (heavy or light) and lactation (natural or artificial) on the meat quality of suckling kids from seven Spanish breeds was investigated. In a home test consumers evaluated all sample types in a balanced design. There were some differences, such as breed effects for light kids but not for heavy kids. At the end of the test, some consumers wanted more meat and asked where it could be bought, while others did not want more.