‘Human meat’ for sale in central Stockholm

Visitors to Sergels Torg in Stockholm were greeted on Monday by the sight of naked human bodies, packaged like meat and covered in fake blood.

The spectacle was part of a campaign by Swedish group Charity International designed to encourage people to think more about their eating habits.

For just 49.90 kronor ($7), potential customers were invited to purchase some choice cuts of human meat.

While there was no major rush to buy any of the three people lying naked in packages labelled ‘meat’, the campaign did arouse plenty of curiosity.

“What the heck is that? Are those dead people?” several passers-by were heard to wonder.

It took a while before people realized that they were looking at a campaign to highlight the suffering of animals.

Using live humans, packaged like meat in a supermarket, Charity International hopes to get as many people as possible to boycott animal products.

“The cutlets and filelts on supermarket meat counters were once living individuals. A lot of people live under the illusion that life is good for animals. But that’s not the case.

“If you consume animal products, then you are torturing animals,” said Ludvig Lindström, chairman of Charity International.

hmm nice…

Absorbent pads help retain packaged meat colour
A new absorbent pad prevents meat discolouration while retaining moisture in packaging, its manufacturer claims.

Sirane claims its Dri-Fresh Resolve absorbent meat pad uses a highly developed surface that makes packaged products more appealing to customers over the shelf life of the product.

To make packaged meat more appealing to consumers, absorbent pads are added to soak up leaking blood. However, these can become dry, which in turn dries the meat leading to discolouration.

Sirane claims to have solved the problem. Dri-Fresh Resolve contains a breathable surface that allows oxygen to interact with the base of the meat, which tends to go brown if deprived of air contact.

The pad controls the surface moisture of the meat which ensures the underneath looks as good as the top, the company claims.

Sirane said pads are manufactured without adhesives or bonding materials, and as such are completely food safe. No loss of absorbency occurs during the packaging lifespan and the pads absorbent layers do not delaminate, claims the company.

Dri-Fresh is available in absorbency levels of 800, 1700 and 3000cc/m2 and comes in range of colours, shapes and sizes to suit all applications.

Pads can be composted after use, which reduces the environmental packaging waste burden on landfill.

Dri-Fresh Resolve was exhibited by Sirane at the Convenience Retailing Show NEC Birmingham and Pro2Pac 2007 London, earlier this month.

UK-based Sirane manufactures a range of packaging and other products including specialised absorbents, bio-degradable, microwaveable and ovenable materials and protective materials for a number of food and other applications.

Welsh butcher set to stand trial for e.coli charges at crown court

The butcher accused of being responsible for the South Wales e coli outbreak in 2005 is to stand trial at a crown court this summer.

Meat condemned by court

Hackney Council says it may prosecute a halal butcher after it found meat unfit for human consumption.

LIVERPOOL’S famous Vegan Food Fayre will be cooking up an irresistible banquet of ethical treats at Lark Lane’s Old Police Station on Saturday March 17.

From 12noon to 4pm, visitors can try out free dishes in a relaxed environment and learn more about healthy eating and animal-free living from the chefs and local vegetarian and vegan groups – who will even share their secret recipes.

“Planet-friendly stalls” will also serve up the perfect spring shopping opportunity, selling everything from exclusive beauty products to books and cakes.

Entry to the Vegan Food Fayre is free.

Hillside’s recent investigations into the deplorable conditions that animals are existing in on RSPCA ‘monitored’ Freedom Food farms are to be shown on the below programme.

Tonight: The Truth About Ethical Food