Ostrich meat is a type of

red meat In gastronomy, red meat is commonly red when raw (and a dark color after it is cooked), in contrast to white meat, which is pale in color before (and after) cooking. In culinary terms, only flesh from mammals or fowl (not fish) is classified ...

obtained from the

ostrich Ostriches are large flightless birds. Two living species are recognised, the common ostrich, native to large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and the Somali ostrich, native to the Horn of Africa. They are the heaviest and largest living birds, w ...

, a large flightless bird native to

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

. Known for its health benefits and sustainability, ostrich meat has gained popularity worldwide, particularly in health-conscious and gourmet markets. It tends to be darker than beef due to the high levels of final pH.

History

The consumption of ostrich meat dates back to ancient times, particularly in Africa where ostriches are native. The meat was traditionally hunted and consumed by various indigenous cultures. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, ostrich farming began to spread to other parts of the world, including

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, primarily driven by the demand for ostrich feathers. Today, ostrich meat is farmed commercially in various parts of the world, including the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

, and

. Consumers can purchase ostrich meat in the United States from a few of the current ostrich farms including Amaroo Hills, American Ostrich Farms, Blackwing, Briardale, and Salgers.

Nutritional benefits

Ostrich meat is highly valued for its nutritional profile. It is a lean meat, with low fat content and high protein. The meat has lower cholesterol levels than

beef Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (''Bos taurus''). Beef can be prepared in various ways; Cut of beef, cuts are often used for steak, which can be cooked to varying degrees of doneness, while trimmings are often Ground beef, grou ...

pork Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry, husbandry dating back to 8000–9000 BCE. Pork is eaten both freshly cooke ...

, and lamb. Ostrich meat is a good source of iron, which is essential for red blood cell production. It contains significant amounts of B vitamins, particularly B12, which is important for energy metabolism and nervous system health.Manap, K., & Serikkyzy, M. (2023). Production of ostrich meat pâtés: Design of a food safety management system. Food Science and Technology International, 29(8), 847-856. https://doi.org/10.1177/10820132221124195

References

{{reflist Poultry products Ostriches Birds as food

History

Nutritional benefits

See also

References