What is processed meat

Sheep, beef and venison farmer Richard Greer says his business still hasn't recovered from Covid-19’s hit to meat prices, with turnover down between 30 and 40 per cent. He doesn’t much hope for the year ahead, because of continuing lockdowsn in key markets like the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom. Venison in particular was “taking a hammering”, he said. Prior to Covid, Greer was getting between $10 and $11 a kilogram. Now, it’s $5.50. Lamb had also taken a hit. Three weeks ago, Greer got $114 for an 18kg lamb, but exactly one year earlier he had fetched $142 for a 17.2kg lamb. READ MORE: Lamb exports up 12 per cent in August on previous year Agriculture emerges from lockdown relatively unscathed, but coming global recession will bite, says economist Farming can weather the economic fall out from coronavirus, economists say “ The prices are down, but the cost structures are still up there.” Westpac agri-economist Nathan Penny agreed current farm gate … [Read more...] about Hope ahead for farmers struggling with meat prices, economist says

SINGAPORE: Fish balls are not only a staple in Singapore’s hawker landscape, they are also one of Singaporeans’ two most favourite processed foods, according to the first study of its kind here. Nearly 8,000 Singaporeans ranked fish balls alongside chicken nuggets in the survey of ultra-processed foods conducted by the Singapore Management University in collaboration with the programme Talking Point. READ: What really is in the chicken nuggets you like so much And of all the fish that fish balls here are made from, the one that a lot of Singaporeans prefer the taste of, said Randall Ang, is itoyori (threadfin bream). That is what goes into the fish paste, or surimi, used in the BoBo brand of fish balls produced by Ha Li Fa, where Ang is the business development director. His company, one of the largest among the 30-plus makers of fish balls in Singapore, imports this paste from a few countries in the region. One of them — one of the top three sources of … [Read more...] about Singapore’s fish balls could get unhealthier in the near future

We’ve come a long way from the cans of Folgers that filled our grandparents’ cupboards, with our oat milk lattes, cold brews and Frappuccinos. Some of us are still very utilitarian about the drink while others perform elaborate rituals. The fourth most popular beverage in the country, coffee is steeped into our culture. Just the right amount can improve our mood; too much may make us feel anxious and jittery. IS COFFEE GOOD FOR ME? Yes. In moderation, coffee seems to be good for most people – that’s 3 to 5 cups, or up to 400 milligrams of caffeine. “The evidence is pretty consistent that coffee is associated with a lower risk of mortality,” said Erikka Loftfield, a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute who has studied the beverage. For years, coffee was believed to be a possible carcinogen, but the 2015 Dietary Guidelines helped to change perception. For the first time, moderate coffee drinking was included as part of a healthy diet. When researchers … [Read more...] about Is coffee good for you? It depends on the kind of coffee and the quantity

It was barely a month ago when you were carving turkey and tucking into thick cuts of ham, decadent log cake, and clinking glasses of champagne. The cycle is ready to repeat itself when Chinese New Year (CNY) comes around on Jan 25. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if you’ve already started munching on love letters and pineapple tarts. And while we hate to rain on your parade, all that eating is bound to bring up some health concern. Aside from weight gain, the high sugar content in your favourite CNY goodies may cause a spike in blood sugar levels, reminded Dr Ian Phoon, a family physician at SingHealth Polyclinics Pasir Ris and the chairman of the Cardiovascular Disease Workgroup Committee at SingHealth Polyclinics. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Susan Lee-Symons (@artibaker) on Jan 7, 2020 at 10:42pm PST Even savoury must-haves of the season such as bak kwa and shrimp rolls are carb, fat … [Read more...] about How to keep the kilos off during reunion dinner or when visiting during CNY

SINGAPORE: In Singapore, when most people picture vegetarian food, what comes to mind? Probably, a stall in a hawker centre, staffed by middle-age hawkers who might have been doing this for a while but haven’t really focused on the nutritional value of the food. Their education level and science knowledge might not be so high, and sometimes it’s hard to communicate what you want when many hawkers prefer to speak dialect rather than Mandarin or English. And, what about their technology to provide these vegetarian meals, if you want to call it that? A wok sitting over a fire, with a metal spatula, a knife and a cutting board. As to cleanliness, it might be fairly good, but how often do you see hawkers get an A from the National Environment Agency? What about the dishes served at this vegetarian stall? The same tried and true recipes, featuring lots of SOS (Salt, Oil and Sugar), with whole-grain rice or noodles hard to find. Not exactly what modern nutrition science … [Read more...] about Commentary: The vegetarian’s meal in Singapore is changing, with huge help from science