Austrians eat about 1,300 tons of goose meat per year, which amounts to about 0.13 kilograms per person – or the equivalent of one goose meal. However, this only comes from Austria in about one in three cases! AreThe share of imported geese is particularly high in the catering industry. Some of them even come from agricultural practices that are not allowed in Austria.
The self-sufficiency of Austrian geese is slowly increasing, but the majority of geese come from countries such as Hungary. These mainly end up on the plate in the catering industry. According to estimates, between 70 and 80 percent of the goose meat in the catering industry does not come from Austria.
Hannes Royer, founder of the ‘Land Creates Life Association’, says: ‘Austria plays an absolute pioneering role in the field of geese fattening. Without exception, every Austrian goose has a run. At EU level, there are not even minimum legal standards for keeping geese.”
“So you can imagine how animals are kept in countries like Hungary. Unfortunately, every year thousands of imported geese based on agricultural methods that are not even allowed in our country end up on Austrian plates – and usually without the consumer knowing what they are actually eating. We finally need mandatory labeling of origin and livestock farming, including for the catering industry,” says Royer.
Large price differences with imported goods
The strict requirements for keeping geese in Austria make it considerably more expensive than those abroad. This is also reflected in the price. This year the price differences in purchasing are particularly large. The fresh Austrian Gansl costs on average about 10 euros per kilogram more in wholesale than the frozen product from Hungary. In 2023, imported geese were significantly more expensive. The reasons for this were higher raw material prices and losses due to bird flu.
No Austrian goose without a run
According to Austria’s livestock regulations, every goose in this country – regardless of whether they are farmed organically or conventionally – must have access to a run. A maximum of 21 kilograms of geese may be kept per square meter of space in the stable. There are about four geese at the time of slaughter. In addition, each animal must have at least 50 square meters of space to move around. If the animals have more space in the stable, less space is sufficient: if a maximum of 15 kilograms per square meter is kept, at least 10 square meters of space per animal is sufficient.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
