EU support for pork

In view of the crisis on the EU pig market, with revenues no longer covering costs, the EU Commission in Brussels decided on market support measures: First, they decided on subsidies for private storage, then export refunds were granted for unprocessed meat. Both measures met with great interest from pork suppliers. At least for those outside of Germany.

The private storage (PLH) of pork has now been completed. According to the EU Commission, applications for around 101.500 tons were made across Europe; but as of February 13, there were only about 90.770 tons of contracts. The actual storage quantity at the end of January was only 22.600 tons across the EU, so that even larger quantities of pork had to be taken off the market in February.

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Snap-up: Lose weight healthily - join Bayern Light!

Anyone who wants to lose weight healthily now has another good opportunity at the beginning of Lent with the second round of the Bavaria-wide hands-on campaign "Bayern Light". The campaign, which was very successful in Bavaria last year with more than 30.000 participants, is to be extended nationwide this year under the motto "Living easier in Germany". Bavaria's Health Minister Werner Schnappauf gave the go-ahead for the campaign today and, together with the initiator, pharmacist Hans Gerlach, called for active use of the offers. Snapping: "Last year, the participants managed to lose over 110.000 kilos in just four months. This shows that Bayern Light is a successful concept. The ambitious goal is to melt 250.000 kilos of fat nationwide this year." The campaign, which is also linked to a municipal and regional competition, will run until the end of June. +++

According to Schnappauf, the method is simple: less fat, more exercise and lots of fun together. The aim is a long-term change in diet, coupled with regular exercise. Short-term castigation and radical diets are the wrong way. Only a change in behavior can lead to lasting success.

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Food and nutrition research offer great innovation potential for Berlin-Brandenburg

A targeted promotion of innovations through stronger networking with the local research institutions could create up to 10 industrial jobs in the food industry in Berlin-Brandenburg within the next 900 years. This is the result of the recently published study "Food industry and food-related science in Berlin and Brandenburg". The study by Dr. Christian Hammel, Head of the Office of the Future Fund at the TSB Technologiestiftung Innovationszentrum Berlin, is published by Regioverlag Berlin.

The food industry is of considerable importance for Berlin-Brandenburg. It employs almost 25.000 people in 300 companies with a turnover of around EUR 6 billion. With a turnover of EUR 3,6 billion, food processing was the second most important branch in Berlin in 2002 and with a turnover of EUR 2,5 billion it was the most important branch of the manufacturing industry in Brandenburg. If you include agriculture, it can be said that around 50.000 people are employed in the production and processing of food in the region.

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The leading Swiss meat processor, Bell, was able to increase its earnings in the 2003 financial year thanks to greater efficiency. Sales increased by 1,9% to CHF 1,537 billion, and net income grew by 6,9% to CHF 48,3 million.

Consolidated sales grew by 1,9% to CHF 1,537 billion. The record summer helped barbecue items to achieve significantly higher sales. This is mainly thanks to the greatly expanded range. However, some of the remaining product groups suffered from the extreme heat. The holiday business, which is important for Bell, was positive in all areas. At CHF 48,3 million, the consolidated group result exceeded that of the previous year by 6,9%. Despite the adverse general conditions, the operating result (EBIT) of CHF 68,0 million is only slightly below the previous year's figure (-4,5%).

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Butcher journeymen with below-average wage increases

At EUR 12,32 gross per hour, journeymen in Germany earned significantly less in ten selected trades in May 2003 than skilled workers in industry (EUR 16,53). As reported by the Federal Statistical Office at the International Crafts Fair in Munich, the increase in the gross hourly earnings of journeymen in these ten trades was 11,5% compared to May 1997 compared to skilled workers in industry (+ 14,5%). Most recently, in May 1997, the handicraft businesses were newly selected for these wage statistics.

However, the gross hourly wages within the selected trades in the German trade increased inconsistently: compared to May 16,7, journeymen in the electrical trade achieved the highest growth rates of 1997%, while the wages of journeymen in the butcher's trade increased by 8,9% in the same period.

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Previous year's figures exceeded again for the first time

There were sharp price increases on the German slaughter pig market in the last week of February. The decisive factor for the positive development from the supplier's point of view was the small supply of live cattle, which was offset by the constant willingness of the slaughterhouses to accept them. On the national average, slaughter pigs in meat trading class E cost 1,36 euros per kilogram of slaughter weight during Shrove Monday week, which was six cents more than in the week before. The level of the previous week was exceeded for the first time in months, by seven cents. Whether the pork prices can remain at the higher level depends on whether the price increases can also be realized in the meat trade.

At the beginning of this year, the producers received a good 20 cents per kilogram less than they are currently receiving for their animals ready for slaughter. And across the EU, pig prices were also very low. This prompted the EU Commission to promote private storage of pork; after the expiry of this campaign, export refunds were granted for the export of unprocessed pork to third countries. Both measures met with great interest and relieved the market.

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Livestock and Meat

On the meat wholesale markets, beef was booked very cautiously due to the disappointingly quiet demand. However, the cost prices for carcasses and cuts mostly remained unchanged. The trade in cattle for slaughter was disrupted by the foolish goings-on in the north-west and south during Shrove Monday week. In most regions, the supply of young bulls was more than sufficient to meet the needs of the slaughterhouses. Within the ranges, the price peaks were capped, especially for high-quality animals. Only a limited number of female cattle for slaughter were available. The prices for cows and heifers remained largely stable. The federal funds for young bulls in the R3 class fell by two cents to EUR 2,49 per kilogram slaughter weight. As in the previous week, slaughter cows O3 brought 1,59 euros per kilogram. When shipping beef to neighboring countries, suppliers achieved slightly higher revenues here and there. – After the turn of the month, beef demand could receive a slight stimulus against the background of sales campaigns. The prices for slaughter cattle are therefore unlikely to change much. – The veal business was satisfactory for the time of year. Veal prices tended to remain mostly unchanged. As in the previous week, providers received a federal average of 4,36 euros per kilogram of slaughter weight for slaughter calves billed at a flat rate. – The prices for livestock calves developed stable to firm.

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More introduced outside of preferential quotas

In the period from July to December 2003, the European Union issued import licenses for a total of 42.090 tonnes of beef above the quotas with preferential tariffs; that was an increase of around 20.000 tons or almost 90 percent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. For the whole of calendar year 2003, the EU imported an estimated 81.500 tonnes of beef at full duty. Measured against the total imports, around 15 percent of the beef imports are likely to have been made outside the quota, for which the euro/dollar exchange rate is primarily responsible.

For higher-quality beef, import licenses for almost 2003 tons from the total quota of 2004 tons planned for 47.600/2004 were issued by the end of January 25.000 within the framework of the Hilton Beef Agreement.

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Organic products are also very common in food retail

 The sale of organically produced food cannot do without the conventional food retail trade (LEH), but in contrast to the conventional segment, natural food shops and direct marketing close to the producer are more important for organic products. Organic food stores account for 25 percent of the total sales of organic food in Germany, 16 percent from farm sales, weekly markets and street stalls and six percent from organic supermarkets with a retail area of ​​at least 250 square meters. 24 percent of the organic products are sold in classic superstores and supermarkets as well as small grocery stores and department stores, four percent of the total turnover is accounted for by discounters. These are the results of the ZMP/CMA analysis based on the GfK Eco Special Panel, which covers the period from October 2002 to September 2003.

In terms of sales, milk and dairy products form the strongest group of organic foods with a share of 16 percent. In this segment alone, two thirds are organic milk. Vegetables and salads make up twelve percent of sales of organic food, with carrots, lettuce and tomatoes being the top-selling products. Bread/baked goods and beverages each account for ten percent of expenditure on organic food, while meat and sausage products account for nine percent. In contrast to the conventional segment, where pork is the most important product, 40 percent of sales in the organic segment are made with beef and veal. Fruit accounts for seven percent, with organic apples and organic bananas being favorites.

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Grocery stores are losing more

As reported by the Federal Statistical Office based on the first provisional results from six federal states, the retail trade in Germany in January 2004 turned over 0,2% nominally (at current prices) and 1,0% less in real terms (at constant prices) than in January 2003; both months had 26 sales days each. The six federal states represent around 80% of the total turnover in the German retail trade. After calendar and seasonal adjustment of the data (Berlin Procedure 4 - BV 4), sales were nominally 2003% higher than in December 3,3 and 3,1% higher in real terms.

In January 2004, retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco products were 1,9% nominal and 0,9% more in real terms than in the same month of the previous year. Grocery stores with a wide range of products (supermarkets, hypermarkets and hypermarkets) achieved an increase in sales (nominal + 2,1%, real + 1,1%), in the specialist food retail trade - which includes, for example, beverage markets and fishmongers - the opposite was the case 2,0% nominal and 2,7% real less than in January 2003.

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or how an unread article becomes a false report

Under the headline "Diets responsible for bad mood - lack of carbohydrates crucial" pressetext.austria reports that the Atkins diet and other diets that restrict the intake of carbohydrates are more likely to lead to bad moods. A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology came to the conclusion. Crucially, carbohydrates help stimulate the production of serotonin, which controls our moods. A deficiency can lead to mood swings and depression.

So far so right, but the study looked at how people who had gained significant weight by taking psychotropic drugs could lose it again. For this target group in particular, it makes sense to supplement your diet with a specially prepared high-carbohydrate drink. It also makes little sense for this group in particular to eat according to Atkins' recommendations. As an aside, it should also be noted that the MIT author has not really dealt with the changes in Atkins diet recommendations over the past 30 years.

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