European Rabbit Meat Days to be held on October 4-5 to promote rabbit meat consumption

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The aim of the new initiative is to promote extremely healthy and versatile rabbit meat dishes in restaurants participating in the event, they wrote. They added that rabbit meat is a fundamental ingredient of European gastronomic culture, which has been part of Hungarian cookbooks and culinary art since ancient times, and is an invaluable culinary heritage. Rabbit meat needs to be introduced and loved by consumers again, and to this end, the Hungarian Rabbit Product Council has joined forces with its Spanish sister organization INTERCUN and launched a 3-year campaign series co-financed by the European Union, one of the first stages of which is the week of October 4-5 – they highlighted.

According to the information, Hungary is the fourth largest European rabbit meat producer after Spain and the second largest exporter in the world with more than 50 active farms

The quality of domestic rabbit meat is excellent and reliable, the production standard is first-class, which includes animal welfare, food safety, as well as environmental, economic and social sustainability. The statement explained that rabbit meat is allergen- and fat-free, easy to digest, high in vitamin and mineral content, quick and easy to prepare, and thanks to its soft and snow-white meat, it is also a great favorite with children. It also absorbs the flavors of herbs, spices, wines and broths very well, making it ideal for stews, ragouts or risottos. Rabbit meat provides a special gastronomic experience both as an everyday and festive dish. At the National Agricultural and Food Exhibition and Fair (OMÉK) in September, it was announced that the three-year campaign with a budget of 4.2 million euros aims to increase the market presence of rabbit meat by 2-5 percent. The sector was negatively affected by drought in 2022 and previously by the coronavirus, but its market started to grow last year, with live animal purchases increasing by nearly 10 percent compared to 2023. Hungary is the fourth largest rabbit producer in Europe and the second largest rabbit meat exporter in the world, with 30 million euros per year. Annual production is 3.6 million units, and domestic sales are around 410 tons. According to the professional organization, it would be considered a success if market penetration increased by 2 percent over the three years of the program.

MTI