The Facts About Edible Animal Fats

Below you will find EFPRA's Facts
About Edible Animal Fats brochure.
Electronic and hard copies are

available. Please contact Dirk
Dobbelaere at efpra@skypro.be
stating the number of copies you
wish to receive and the postal
address.

The Facts About Edible Animal Fats
Edible animal fats are a source of energy, vitamins and fatty acids.
Taken from the same carcasses as prime cuts of meat, edible animal
fats enhance the taste and texture of food.
Edible animal fats include lard from pigs, beef dripping, goose and
chicken fat. All are from animals bred, reared and slaughtered for use
in the food chain. Like meat, the production and processing of animal
fat is subject to strict European Food Hygiene Regulations and is fully
traceable from farm to fork.
Edible animal fats in a healthy diet
Humans have eaten animal fats for millennia, satisfying the body’s
demand for essential nutrients. They are a natural and beneficial part
of a balanced diet, supplying energy, vitamins and fatty acids.
Edible animal fats also move and enable the use of important nutrients
within the body. For example, vitamins A, D, E and K are not only
found in edible animal fats but need fat to be transported and used by
the human body.
Edible animal fats contain none of the unnatural trans fatty acids and
“fast” carbohydrates linked to coronary heart disease and strokes.
While edible animal fats do contain comparatively high levels of
saturated fats, recent scientific research has disproven its link with
these chronic diseases.
In addition all animal fats contain significant levels of oleic acid. This is
the major fatty acid found in olive oil and is thought to be responsible
for the health benefits associated with its consumption. Poultry fat and
lard in particular contain high levels of oleic acid.
Edible animal fats in food production
Animal fats are appreciated for their Lard’s soft consistency and crystalline
delicious taste and excellent baking structure lends itself to baking; it is the
and cooking properties. most suitable fat for shortening pastry.
Beef dripping, for example, is an Animal fats continue to be chosen by

excellent frying agent. It’s relatively award winning chefs and home cooks
high levels of saturated fatty acids for the superior flavour and texture
improve heat stability and reduce they add to food. In Belgium beef
sensitivity to oxidation. As a dripping is used to produce perfect
consequence beef dripping tends to french fries and in the UK it’s
smoke less. acknowledged to make the best fish &
chips. In Germany and France goose
fat and lard are popular spreads.
Producing edible animal fats
Edible animal fats are from animals Together with their co-products, edible
specifically bred, reared, slaughtered animal fats share the environmental
and processed for human consumption cost of animal husbandry.
in accordance with European Food
Hygiene Regulations. The proportion each product bears is
often based on their economic value.
Premium grade fat is cut from under As a result, co-products such as edible
the skin and from the abdominal cavity. animal fats, carry a much smaller share
It is purified, filtered and refined to of the total environmental impact.
produce high grade oils and fats.
Their carbon footprint is further
Edible animal fats have a small carbon reduced as most edible animal fats are
footprint compared to other fats and produced using renewable energy
oils. Unlike palm and vegetable oil, derived from animal by-products.
where crops are grown specifically for
their oil content, animals that produce
edible animal fats are reared primarily
for their meat, dairy and wool.
DRIVING FOOD CHAIN SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN EUROPE
EFPRA represents the animal by-products processing sector in Europe and is a

leading authority on the regulation, manufacture, bio-security and nutrient value of
processed animal protein and animal fat.
EFPRA has a single primary objective to continually improve the safety, security and
sustainability of European food production by efficiently processing animal fats and
animal by-products.
It brings together European by-product processing organisations that produce

high-quality products, edible animal fats and processed animal protein for example,
and works closely with partners worldwide for the technical advancement of the
industry.
For more information about processed animal protein, animal fats and the European
by-product processing industry visit www.efpra.eu or call +32 (0) 2 203 51 41.
EFPRA, Boulevard Baudouin 18 (4th ﬂoor) B-1000, Brussels

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The Facts About Edible Animal Fats

Uploaded by

Copyright:

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Electronic and hard copies are

Beef dripping, for example, is an Animal fats continue to be chosen by

EFPRA represents the animal by-products processing sector in Europe and is a

It brings together European by-product processing organisations that produce

EFPRA, Boulevard Baudouin 18 (4th ﬂoor) B-1000, Brussels

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