Share the facts about red meat and health

Lean red meats such as beef, lamb and pork provide a range of nutrients that benefit health:

• Maintaining muscle – Red meat provides high-quality protein which helps maintain muscle mass, and potassium which helps muscles to work normally
• Reduce tiredness – Essential B vitamins in red meat, including vitamin B12, help our body convert the foods we eat into energy. Beef also provides iron, which helps reduce tiredness and fatigue
• Mood and mental health – Red meat provides zinc and iron (in beef) which contribute to normal cognitive function
• Immune support – Beef, lamb and pork are a natural source of Vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and zinc, which help the immune system function normally

The UK food and farming sector is committed to sustainable production and working in harmony with nature, this ranges from reducing emissions, changing how they manage the land to encourage carbon absorption and biodiversity and generating renewable energy.

How much meat is recommended in a healthy balanced diet?

Red meat is rarely eaten on its own but typically with starchy carbohydrates like potatoes, pasta or rice and vegetables or salad and thus can provide a meal which can contribute to a healthy, balanced diet.

In terms of how much meat, the current UK Government advises that we keep our intake of red and processed meat to 70g (cooked weight) or less a day, and no more than around 500g (600–700g raw weight) a week.

The purpose of these guides are to provide information on claims that can be made in the promotion of the nutrients in lean beef, lamb and pork that comply with nutrition and health claims regulations, in the context of a healthy, balanced diet.

British meat is a natural source of vitamin B12, an essential vitamin not naturally present in plant based foods. Vitamin B12 helps reduce tiredness and fatigue, and supports the normal function of the immune system.

Pork is classified as a red meat. Some cuts of pork are low fat as they contain less than 3% fat, making it a tasty choice as part of a healthy balanced meal.

Iron is important in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. UK dietary surveys indicate that nearly half of girls aged 11–18 years and a quarter of women aged 19–64 years have low iron intakes. Beef is a natural source of iron, and the iron in meat is in a form that is well absorbed by the body.

Take a look at our marketing activity, including the Let's Eat Balanced campaign.