German consumers are very upset these days. Lebensmittelkontrolleure (food inspectors) found out that the Hackfleisch (minced meat) used in several Fertiggerichte (pre-cooked dishes) were mixed with Pferdefleisch (horsemeat). Usually, Germans prefer minced meat made of Schweinefleisch (pork) or Rindfleisch (beef). A couple of days later, media announced that organic eggs were as organic as pesticide-laden foods. Dealers sold eggs from Legenhennen (laying hens) or Eier aus Bodenhaltung (barn eggs) as organic ones.  And most retailers even did not know that their products were labeled wrongly.

Why are Germans so upset about that? Well, it is true that Germans do usually not divest themselves of horsemeat because of religious reasons, like Hindus who do not eat beef, or Muslims who do not eat pork, but Germans would like to know which ingredients particular foods have. Küchenfertige Produkte (ready-to-cook products) are labeled what Zutaten (ingredients) they contain and consumers trust the label.

Are farmers only geldgierig (greedy for money)? In case of the eggs, one can say: yes! It is simply more expensive to produce organic eggs, since hens need a larger run area and they may not be fed with food that is mixed with Betacarotin (beta-carotene). Beta-carotene ensures that the Eigelb or Eidotter (yolk) becomes orange in color. Interestingly, at least, German consumers prefer a more orange yolk. The yolk of organic eggs is usually a faint yellow. In case of the Pferdefleischskandal (horsemeat scandal), one cannot say that producers are greedy for money, since legally sold horsemeat costs as much as beef.

Some Germans would give horsemeat a try and eat it, but others who have horses as Reittiere (riding animals), Nutztiere (livestock), or Zuchttiere (breeder animals) have another relationship to horses. The make the point clearer, Germans would never eat dogs or cats, since both these animals are usually kept as pets in Germany. Further, there is probably no German who would ever eat Meerschweinchen (guinea pigs), which are a delicacy Peru, because guinea pigs are among the typical pets children have.

Do you think that German consumers are upset with good reasons? Would you feel deceived if someone sold you horsemeat and telling you that this was beef or pork?

 

Vocabulary:

der Lebensmittelkontrolleur – food inspector (masculine)

die Lebensmittelkontrolleurin – food inspector (feminine)

das Hackfleisch – minced meat

das Fertiggericht – pre-cooked dish

das Pferdefleisch – horsemeat

das Schweinefleisch – pork

das Rindfleisch – beef

die Legehenne – laying hen

(die) Eier aus Bodenhaltung – barn eggs (usually used without article)

das kückenfertige Produckt – ready-to-cook product

die Zutaten – ingredients (plural)

geldgierig – greedy for money

das Betacarotin – beta-carotene

das Eigelb / Eidotter – yolk

der Pferdefleischskandal – horsemeat scandal

das Reittier – riding animal

das Nutztier – livestock

das Zuchttiert – breeder animal