The debate about the quality of the meat used for tacos is on the rise. From a nutritional perspective, all meat provides the same nutrients; what varies is how it is handled during cooking and selling. In tacos, whether they are made with beef, pork, or chicken, the meat is usually heavily seasoned, which can mask its general condition or deterioration. It is important to consider that seasoning the meat can hide the contaminants present. Therefore, consuming a taco from a street vendor can entail risks, as frozen or low-quality meat is used to cut costs and conceal possible health hazards.
According to Carlos Alberto Bautista, a researcher at the La Salle University Business Faculty, the Mexican taco market sells tons of frozen meat for years, mainly imported from the United States, at a significantly lower price than fresh meat. This meat, known as "garbage meat," has specific characteristics that distinguish it from fresh meat, such as a striated appearance due to the time it has been frozen. Additionally, losing the cold chain makes it difficult to preserve in optimal conditions, increasing health risks for those who consume it.
The garbage meat market often operates clandestinely. Lax customs allow this type of meat to enter the country with little quality control, facilitating its distribution and sale at very low prices. Although a zoosanitario certificate is required to import frozen meat, its review is superficial and thorough controls are not conducted. This endangers consumers who are unaware of the origin and quality of the meat they are consuming in their tacos.
Juan Carlos Anaya, director of the Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA), highlights that the majority of taco vendors in Mexico prefer to use high-quality beef pulp in their tacos. Although frozen beef pulp is imported from countries like the United States and Brazil, this does not necessarily imply that it is considered garbage meat. There is a clear difference between the quality of meat used in economical tacos and that of more sophisticated cuts, and it is important for consumers to be informed about it.
In summary, the quality of the meat used in tacos is a relevant issue in the Mexican food industry. It is essential to ensure that hygiene and quality standards are met in food preparation to avoid health risks for the population.
