Beef bones from butcher safe for human consumption?

Mander

So, I read this article about beef bone broth and now I'd like to make some. Beef on the bone is a little hard to come by in the UK, of course, due to the whole scare over mad cow. The local butcher sells big bags of leftover bones, intended for dogs, which seem perfect for my broth-making adventure.

However, they generally aren't kept in the fridge, and seeing as how they aren't meant for people, I don't know if they do anything else to them. I'll ask, of course, before I buy any, but does anyone know offhand any reason why they wouldn't be safe to eat?

Charis

Mander wrote: »

Beef on the bone is a little hard to come by in the UK, of course, due to the whole scare over mad cow. The local butcher sells big bags of leftover bones, intended for dogs, which seem perfect for my broth-making adventure.

However, they generally aren't kept in the fridge, and seeing as how they aren't meant for people, I don't know if they do anything else to them. I'll ask, of course, before I buy any, but does anyone know offhand any reason why they wouldn't be safe to eat?

Why not ask your butcher to set some aside specially for you? That way you wouldn't be eating something that may make you ill. He'll probably be only to glad to oblige, if EU laws haven't banned the sale of beef bones for human consumption.

Good butchers take a pride in providing what the customer asks for and even helping you work out what to do with it, how to cook it, etc. Apparently beef bones [strike]are[/strike] (were?) a source of nutrition not found in today's so called healthy meals.

thriftlady_2

I wouldn't hestitate about buying beef bones from my butcher. He does sell them for dogs (the police come in and buy them for their dogs) but if I said I wanted them for making stock he'd sort me some.

All you have to do is ask the butcher if you can have bones for making stock. If it's a proper butcher who actually butchers carcases on the premises he will always have fresh bones available. They probably have to pay someone to dispose of them so you'll be doing him a favour. Beware shops which are full of bright red clingfilmed meat, they've just bought it in from wholesalers.

thriftlady_2

Charis wrote: »

if EU laws haven't banned the sale of beef bones for human consumption.

Beef on the bone is perfectly legal these days.

Everytime I go into my butcher's he has a side of beef, lamb or pork on the chopping table that is being cut up, the bones are there to see, just ask;)

Penelope_Penguin

Mander wrote: »

Beef on the bone is a little hard to come by in the UK, of course, due to the whole scare over mad cow.

Really Maybe you should speak to your butcher and ask him - beef on the bone is perfectly easy to come by in the butchers here We had ribs of beef in Berkshire with my inlaws this week - MIL no longer has a butcher and got hers from Tesco (now guess why she lives in one of the largest towns in West Berkshire and has no butcher :mad: ).

Penny. x

nesssie1702

While beef on the bone is now legal to sell, some butchers have a problem getting rid of bones, as they are no longer allowed to dispose of them via the normal waste stream.

Animal bones are now regarded as Category III Animal waste and have to be disposed of according to the Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 (incinerated, rendered, composted or used for bio-gas production). So, if they can give the bones away as "pet food", then they don't have to pay to have them removed.

Bet you wish you'd never asked

pink_princess

I always get mine from sainsburys meat counter ,i also get lamb bones for making stock,i ve never been charged for them either.
HTH
PP

MrsTinks

Definitely just ask! I get both dog bones for my dog and bones for stock too - usually they are more than happy to oblige and rarely charge me for them - other butchers however do charge - even for bones for dogs which I think is cheeky but maybe that's only because I know good butchers give them away

competitionscafe

My butcher does free beef bones for stock if you ask. Chicken carcasses too sometimes. And plenty of cuts of beef on the bone (not free obviously).