What Are the Health Benefits of Eating Fresh Vs. Frozen Meat?
Nutrition Expert Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB), Prof.Dr.Ir.Ahmad Sulaeman, stated that although it might seem that fresh meat would a healthier choice than frozen, the truth is that both fresh and frozen meat can be healthy choices. "Consuming of frozen meat is just as good and healthier. What should be noted is that producers must put the production date to ensure that frozen meat products are new, " Expressed Prof. Ahmad in the Consumer Awareness and Frozen Chicken Supply Workshop in Indonesia, on Thursday, 31 August 2017. The event was organized jointly by Forum Logistik Peternakan Indonesia (FLPI Forum Logistics of Animal Husbandry of Indonesia) and Faculty of Animal Science of Bogor Agricultural University (FAPET IPB), in Mahogany Room, IPB Campus, Taman Kencana, Bogor.
According to Prof. Ahmad's research on consumer awareness and consumers' acceptance of acceptance of frozen beef is still rare. So far research programs have been carried out on frozen chicken. There are still wider perception among the community that frozen chicken is imported chicken meat, not fresh, and it is not clear whether they safe and halal foods.
Consumers also assume that frozen chicken does not contain vitamins and minerals and is not nutritious. Actually frozen and fresh meat, especially chicken has the same quality and safe. Freezing doesn't reduce the nutritional content of meat, in most cases. "It needs efforts from various existing management systems to conduct public campaign. In addition, research to show frozen meat has adequate nutrition of animal protein so that people are convinced. We have to find out the best strategy to promote frozen meat among the communities, to improve their awareness that both fresh and frozen meat can be healthy choices, as long as we store and prepare them properly. We must work hands in hands to promote this innovation, "said Prof. Ahmad.
FLPI as one of the organizer, during which its chairman, Prof. Luky Abdullah, expressed that FLPI is the forum to share ideas and means of cooperation between academia, business, governance and community in the field of livestock logistics and it was established in 2015 and expand its network annually.
Up to now the total number of FLPI members have reached 40 (forty), namely the associations, companies, governance, and communities. Currently FLPI has mapped the topics to be discussed, covering farm management to consumers' perceptions of and attitudes toward dairies products. In the present workshop the topic of the discussion was whether consumers have awareness about frozen and preferred meat.
"Through this workshop we want to develop opinions, how far the level of acceptability that has not been portrayed by us, especially about the livestock business. Therefore we continue to improve the public awareness, "Prof. said. Luky.
Further Prof. Luky said that FLPI in collaboration with the Faculty of Animal Science of IPB has established the Bachelor Degree Program (S1) plus on livestock logistics and Master Program on Logistics Ranch which is the only one in Indonesia. To support the development of this program, FAPET IPB has established cooperation with the Netherlands in terms of human resource capacity building. "Therefore, we organized the forum FLPI to combine the Academician Business Government Community (ABGC)," explained Prof. Luky.
The program was initiated and formulated into the Bachelor Degree Program (S1) plus is the upgraded S1 on livestock logistics, and it meet the standard qualifications set by Kerangka Kualifikasi Nasional Indonesia (KKNI Indonesian National Qualification Framework). For students who will pass such program they are eligible to work in the company, as they will be more competitive. While for Master Degree Program (S2) they are designed to cater the positions as supply chain in Indonesia.
The Dean of FAPET IPB, Dr.Ir. Moh.Yamin, in his opening remarks he congratulated FLPI. "I really appreciate the chosen theme for the workshop. The theme is one of the problems facing our community, the major issues confronting the frozen meat in the traditional market in Indonesia. It's a big homework, especially higher education and research institutions how to educate consumers. How to produce healthy meat. Building customer awareness is important because consumers have a right to know why they should buy your product, as freezing meat halts bacterial growth that can make you sick. Eating fresh meat or keeping it in the refrigerator can also retard bacterial growth. because beef should always be fresh because the nature of livestock products is very easy to damage, "he explained.
Other important resource persons attended the workshop were the Director of P2HNAK, Dr.Fini Murfiani, who discussed the government's regulation on the frozen meat supply chain; and Marina Ratna D Kusumajati, who discussed the latest condition of the distribution of fresh beef and frozen beef. (Wied)
