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Meat refers to animal tissue, especially that which is consumed as food. There are various kinds of meat, classified by the animal from which they come. Animal meat provides humans with all the needed proteins. Fish is not normally classified as meat. Whale meat is, as whales are mammals, not fish.
Most common meats
The following are the main meats consumed in the Western World (Europe and North America).
- Chicken meat.
Less common meats
The following are eaten less commonly in the Western World. Only on special occasions or only in certain areas.
- Deer, including Reindeer
Game
Game is meat produced from wild animals, not frmed animals. the term has been extended to include animals which are normally wild, but are farmed, for example deer.
White and red meat
Meat can also be classified as “white” or “red”. chicken and Turkey are White meats, beef is a red meat.Some meats, such as ham and pork resist such strict classification.
Other meanings
Meat is also used in English expressions to mean the important material. To “get to the meat” of a topic means to arrive at the important points. Other foods are often used in this way, such as “the pith of the matter” or also “chew the fat.”
In Early Modern English, such as that of the King James Bible or Shakespeare, the word is used to refer to food generally.
See also
- Snippet from Wikipedia: Meat
Meat is animal tissue, often muscle, that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted and farmed other animals for meat since prehistory. The Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of animals, including chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and cattle, starting around 11,000 years ago. Since then, selective breeding has enabled farmers to produce meat with the qualities desired by producers and consumers.
Meat is mainly composed of water, protein, and fat. Its quality is affected by many factors, including the genetics and nutritional status of the animal involved. It is edible raw, but is normally eaten cooked, such as by stewing or roasting, or processed, such as by smoking or salting. Bacteria and fungi decompose and spoil unprocessed meat within hours or days.
The consumption of meat, especially red and processed meat, causes health effects including increased risks of cancer, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. Meat production is a major contributor to environmental issues including global warming, pollution, and biodiversity loss, at every scale from local to global.
Meat is important to economies and cultures around the world. Some people choose not to eat meat (vegetarians) for reasons such as ethics, environmental effects, health concerns, or religious dietary rules.