Kravmärkt ham imposes requirements on the buyer – financial times

Food. Ecological ham does not mean that it lacks a variety of additives.

Consumer must check the table of contents carefully if you want to have a Kravmärkt pig, out producers.

In recent years, the interest in certified organic julskinkor increased. But they are not always so easy to find. For those who think animal welfare is more important than the issue of preservatives are, however, more buttocks to choose from. Of the 400 tons of articles as the Swedish Kravgårdar in years produces get only ten tons Kravmärkas when they end up in the stores ‘ refrigerated display cases.

the Rest are labeled instead as organic. To see if the meat still comes from a farm where the pigs go out and graze in the open it is to carefully read the table of contents.

“Kravcertifierad raw material”

– There should be a reference to “Kravcertifierad raw material”. I feel sorry for consumers, ” says Mats Schörling, farmer selling Kravmärkt pork.

the Background is that charkuterister want to continue to treat the articles with the preservative nitrite. It is also something that the Nfa advocates.

But the organization Requirements is critical, and question the use of the nitrite.

Increased cancer risk

– There are metastudier which shows that nitrite can have a negative effect on health and, for example, increase the risk of cancer, ” says Kristin Karlsson, press officer for the Requirements.

Among Kravbönderna raises the requirement for nitritfri ham frustration. They experience to the label that would support improved animal strikes back against those who would benefit. Their pigs must be able to stay outdoors all year around and then in a real fields. It is a requirement that is not imposed on other organic pigs.

Mats Schörling would like to see some kind of exception to the charkuteristerna is prepared to abandon nitritet.

– How are we going to be able to market and charge for our Kravgrisar when we don’t get Kravmärka any meat products at all because it is nitrite in them? he says.

Kravmärkt more expensive

Price ends up organic ham significantly during the Kravmärkt ham. As long as the Nfa advocates nitrite and charkföretagen follow after, will Kravmärkt ham to be a small niche product, think Lars Höök at the Soil on the snout, which organizes farmers with Kravgrisar.

– organic labelling provides a great added value and is also a more expensive product. Because the farmer need to invest in larger spaces and the opportunity for the pigs to go out freely. But the risk of the extension is, of course, that if you do not receive the added value on the market so it can fight back against the farmers. But we are not there yet, ” he says.

the FACTS

Organic julskinkor and nitrite

2016 has Kravbönder produced 400 tons of articles. Of these, 10 tons to be sold with the Logo.

2010, there were approximately 4 tonnes of certified organic julskinkor for sale.

98 percent of all the articles treated with the nitrite.

Nitrite is found naturally in certain foods but in low doses. When it reacts with other substances in the stomach is formed nitrosamines which can be harmful for the body. No studies in people have been able to establish that the nitrosamines which are formed in the food are carcinogenic.

In average, 66% of the pig meat products.

Ham from Kravgårdar that is not treated with the nitrite may organic labelling. Ham from Kravgårdar treated with nitrite labeled as “organic” to be, and in the table of contents is that the meat is Kravcertifierad raw material or the like.

Sources: Requirements, Soil on their snouts, Nfa

TT