Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg’s suggestion to import hormone-injected beef into the UK to beat inflated meat prices has riled Somerset farmers.

“I’ve eaten beef from Australia,” went Sir Rees-Mogg’s opinion, describing it as quite sumptuous and worthy of importing. 

Beef producers termed the comments by the member of parliament for Northeast Somerset constituency as shameful. The farmers wondered how the MP from their beautiful countryside could have overlooked local livestock-rearing livelihoods through his remarks. 

At No.10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had earlier categorically stated that Britain wouldn’t order synthetic beef or treated chicken. Shadow environment minister, Daniel Zeichner echoed the PM’s statement. He told the House of Commons that UK farmers will have a fair playing ground and consumers will eat only healthy meat. 

What is hormone-injected beef?

Hormone-injected beef is meat from cattle that have received synthetic injections to make them gain weight faster than normal.

The fact that this synthetic beef is mass-produced makes it cheaper than organic meat. Thus, the suggestion to import it in a country experiencing high meat cost is only natural.

The U.S., in comparison, became the second country to allow lab-grown meat in 2023, but the UK does not budge.

Is meat expensive in the UK?

Data from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) reveals just how expensive meat has become in the UK. By October 28, 2023, almost all meat categories will have reached higher prices than those in 2022. The categories include diced, steak, mince and other kinds of cuts of beef, pork and lamb. 

The price of red meat in UK supermarkets has increased significantly since 2022. A kilo of beef joint cost 11.42 Sterling pounds ($13.80) on October 26, 2023, against 10.02 Pounds ($12.11) in October 2022. The lowest price in 2023 was in March when the price slid to 9.56 Pounds ($11.55) per kilo.

Retail lamb, on the other hand, has remained unapproachable. Steak was costing 15.93 Pounds ($19.25) per kilo on October 26, 2023. This makes it the most expensive meat slice, apart from diced lamb whose current cost is 18.39 Pounds ($22.23) per kg. 

Pork shoulder (boneless) proved the cheapest at just 4.45 Pounds ($5.38) a kilo as of October 26, 2023.

It all boils down to expensive animal feed and the fact that animal-rearing in Britain enjoys robust control. Thanks to this strong regulation, consumers access healthy meat but at a price.

So, as farmers in Somerset denounce calls for hormone-injected beef from Australia, they know quite well what is at stake. Although they describe synthetic meat as a “jeopardy to the environment,” they steer clear of discussing it from a market competition angle.