Red Meat List: What Meats Are Red Meat?

It is often a real area of confusion for customers, and the public in general, as to what meats are actually classed as red meat.

Most people know beef and lamb are red meat. But what about pork? What about bacon? What about duck? And where do sausages fit in?

We understand the confusion, so this simple red meat list should help clear things up.

Before we get started, it should be said that red meat is a great source of protein, vitamins and minerals, and should form part of a balanced diet and healthy life.

What Is Red Meat?

Red meat is meat that comes from mammals. 

It is usually darker in colour when raw because it contains more myoglobin, a protein found in muscle tissue. Myoglobin helps carry oxygen in the muscles and gives meat a redder colour.

This is where some confusion comes in. Pork is often called “white meat” in cooking or marketing, but nutritionally and officially, pork is classed as red meat because it comes from a mammal and contains myoglobin.

Red Meat List

The main meats classed as red meat are:

• Beef
• Lamb
• Mutton
• Pork
• Veal
• Venison
• Goat

That means steaks, roasting joints, chops, mince, diced meat and other cuts from these animals are all classed as red meat.

Is Beef Red Meat?

Yes, beef is red meat.

This includes beef steaks, beef mince, roasting joints, diced beef, brisket, shin, burgers and other beef cuts.

Beef is one of the meats most people immediately think of when they hear the term red meat.

Is Lamb Red Meat?

Yes, lamb is red meat.

This includes lamb chops, lamb mince, lamb leg, lamb shoulder, lamb shanks and diced lamb.

Mutton, which comes from older sheep, is also classed as red meat.

Is Pork Red Meat?

Yes, pork is red meat.

This is one of the most common points of confusion. Pork can look paler than beef or lamb, and people often think of it as a white meat in the kitchen, but pork is officially classed as red meat.

This includes pork chops, pork loin, pork shoulder, pork belly, pork mince and pork roasting joints.

Are Bacon and Sausages Red Meat?

Bacon and pork sausages are made from pork, so they are classed as red meat.

However, they are also usually classed as processed meat because they have been cured, salted, smoked or preserved in some way.

That means bacon, ham, salami, chorizo, hot dogs and many sausages sit in the processed meat category as well as coming from red meat animals.

For bacon specifically, you may find these guides useful: where bacon comes from, what dry cured bacon is, and streaky bacon vs back bacon.

Is Venison Red Meat?

Yes, venison is red meat.

Venison comes from deer and is usually darker, leaner and stronger in flavour than beef or lamb.

Is Goat Red Meat?

Yes, goat is red meat.

Goat is not eaten as commonly in the UK as beef, lamb or pork, but it is still classed as red meat.

What Meats Are Not Red Meat?

Meats that are not classed as red meat usually come from poultry, birds or smaller animals rather than mammals typically grouped as red meat.

Common meats not usually classed as red meat include:

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Duck
• Goose
• Game birds
• Rabbit

Chicken and turkey are the most common alternatives for people who want to reduce their intake of red meat.

Is Duck Red Meat?

Duck can be confusing because it is darker and richer than chicken or turkey.

In cooking, duck often behaves more like red meat because it has a deeper colour and stronger flavour. However, it is poultry, so it is not normally included in standard red meat lists in the same way as beef, lamb, pork, venison or goat.

Red Meat vs Processed Meat

Red meat and processed meat are not exactly the same thing.

Red meat is meat from mammals, such as beef, lamb, pork, veal, venison, mutton and goat.

Processed meat is meat that has been preserved by curing, smoking, salting or adding preservatives.

Examples of processed meat include:

• Bacon
• Ham
• Sausages
• Salami
• Chorizo
• Corned beef
• Some deli meats

Some meats are both red meat and processed meat. Bacon is a good example, because it is made from pork and has been cured.

Which Red Meat Is the Leanest?

If you want leaner red meat, look for cuts with less visible fat and choose mince with a lower fat percentage.

Leaner red meat options can include:

• Rump steak
• Sirloin steak with excess fat trimmed
• Lean beef mince
• Pork loin
• Pork tenderloin
• Bacon medallions
• Lean diced beef
• Some venison cuts

Higher-fat options can include fattier mince, belly pork, ribeye steak, lamb shoulder, lamb breast and some sausages.

That does not mean you cannot enjoy fattier cuts. It just depends what you are cooking, how often you eat them, and what the rest of your diet looks like.

Is Red Meat Good for You?

Red meat can be a useful source of protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins, including vitamin B12.

Like most things, it is about balance. Cuts of red meat can fit into a varied diet, especially when served with vegetables, potatoes, rice, salad, pulses or wholegrains.

Official guidance generally recommends not eating too much red and processed meat, particularly processed meats such as bacon, sausages and ham.

How to Eat Less Red Meat If You Want To

If you are looking to reduce your intake of red or processed meat, there are a few simple ways to do it:

• Choose smaller portions.
• Eat red meat less often.
• Choose leaner cuts.
• Swap some meals to chicken or turkey.
• Use turkey mince instead of beef or lamb mince.
• Bulk out mince dishes with vegetables, lentils or beans.
• Keep bacon, sausages and other processed meats as occasional choices.

You can browse our chicken and turkey ranges if you want poultry alternatives.

Quick Red Meat List Summary

Final Thoughts

The simple red meat list is beef, lamb, mutton, pork, veal, venison and goat.

The big surprise for many people is pork. Even though pork can look pale when raw, it is still classed as red meat.

Bacon and sausages can also cause confusion because they are usually both red meat and processed meat. So when comparing meat types, it helps to separate the two questions: what animal does it come from, and has it been processed or preserved?

FAQs

What meats are red meat?

Red meats include beef, lamb, mutton, pork, veal, venison and goat.

Is pork red meat?

Yes, pork is classed as red meat, even though it can look lighter than beef or lamb.

Is bacon red meat?

Yes, bacon is usually classed as red meat because it is made from pork. It is also processed meat because it is cured.

Are sausages red meat?

Pork sausages and beef sausages are made from red meat. They are also usually classed as processed meat.

Is chicken red meat?

No, chicken is poultry and is not classed as red meat.

Is turkey red meat?

No, turkey is poultry and is not classed as red meat.

Is duck red meat?

Duck is darker and richer than chicken, but it is poultry and is not normally included in standard red meat lists.

What is the healthiest red meat?

There is no single healthiest red meat for everyone, but leaner cuts such as rump steak, trimmed sirloin, lean beef mince, pork loin and some venison cuts are good options if you want less fat.