What consumers should know about choosing a good butcher

The best way to find a good butcher is to ask friends and family for referrals. Ask someone who has been living in your neighborhood for a while, where they purchase their meat and what they know about the butchers in their area.

When you look at the meat in the shop, look for the appropriate colour as a sign of freshness. The colour of beef must be a healthy pink colour. Keep in mind that when meat is freshly cut, be it roasts or steaks, it will be dark looking. As it sits, the air oxidizes it, turning the meat a pink colour. When purchasing white meat such as poultry or rabbit, the flesh should appear milky white (or off-white) not a polished white.

Shop only at a fully licensed shop and you can rest assured that all the meat you find there has rigorously gone through all the proper safety channels and inspections.