Steak now a health food thanks to new Lite Beef
A new range of beef with up to 14 times less fat than standard cuts is expected to be a hit with foodies watching their waistlines.
New Lite Beef, developed by online health and fitness retailer Musclefood.com, promises the same intense flavour of standard beef in a meat that’s leaner than chicken. The meat is packed with protein and is so low in fat that makers are claiming they have developed the very first health food steak.
The ground breaking new meat is the result of a partnership between Musclefood.com and Brookfield Farm in Dorset.
Lite Beef has been produced from West Country reared cattle aged slightly older than veal but not as mature as standard beef, creating a pale, tender and supremely lean meat.
It is perfect for those on a diet with less fat than standard beef and a higher protein content, leaving diners feeling fuller for longer.
The fat content is a fraction of that found in standard beef with some cuts, such as minute steaks, containing less than ten per cent of the fat compared to the standard equivalent cut.
The Lite Beef range comprises rump steaks, ribeye steaks, fillet steaks and minute steaks alongside diced beef, all of which are exclusive to Musclefood.com.
| Lite Beef Product | Fat Content per 100g | Standard Beef Product | Fat content per 100g |
| Rump steak | 1.3g | Beef, rump steak, raw, lean and fat | 10.1g |
| Sirloin steak | 4.3g | Beef, sirloin steak, raw, lean and fat | 12.7g |
| Ribeye steak | 4g | 2 x 7-8oz Free Range Matured Ribeye Steak | 10.2g |
| Minute steak | 0.4g | 4oz Matured British Minute Steak | 5.6g |
| Diced beef | 0.6g | Extra Lean Diced Great British Beef - 400g | 3.4g |
Unlike many supermarkets, MuscleFood do not calculate their nutritionals but instead they have them tested by a fully independent UKAS accredited lab.
The Lite Beef Rump Steak contains just 1.3g of fat per 100g compared to 10.1g in traditional cuts, which means you could eat seven Lite Beef rump steaks and still not reach the fat content of a single standard steak.
Lite Beef Sirloin has a fat content of only 4.3g per 100g rather than the standard 12.7g and Ribeye’s drop from 10.2g per 100g to just 4g in the Lite Beef range.
Standard minute steaks contain 14 times more fat than the Lite Beef version and Lite Beef diced beef contains just 0.6g per 100g rather than the 3.4g found in standard extra lean varieties.
Prices start at £4 for a pack of two matured Lite Beef minute steaks and £9 for two Lite Beef Rump Steaks. There is also a Lite Beef Taster Bundle option for £25.
Darren Beale, from Musclefood.com, said: “We are delighted to launch our Lite Beef range, providing a new and healthy option for those who love beef.
“Until now few people would view steak as a health food and, for many, it has been seen as a guilty treat due to its high fat content.
“But with this new range, customers can still stick to their diet as well as indulge in a real meat feast. We believe we have developed the very first health food steak.
“We’ve already had some rave reviews from customers who have tried our Lite Beef and they also prefer the taste compared to usual beef.
“It’s particularly tender and isn’t as heavy as the standard alternative making it a great option for anyone watching their weight, for fitness fans or simply those that love a delicious meaty meal.”
Brookfield Farm is the holder of two Compassion in World Farming Awards, including one for its calf rearing programme.
Many of the cattle used to create Lite Beef come from Brookfield Farm itself with the remainder coming from other RSPCA Assured farms across the West Country.
Clive Brazier, CEO RSPCA Assured said: "Not only are people becoming increasingly more health conscious when choosing which food to buy but they are also more conscious of the health and welfare of the animals that produce it.
“So we are really pleased that Musclefood has made animal welfare a top priority in developing its RSPCA Assured Lite Beef Collection and hope other brands will be inspired to follow their lead."
Musclefood’s partnership with Brookfield Farm was praised by Compassion in World Farming.
A spokesman for the organisation, which is opposed to intensive factory farming of animals, said: “We applaud Brookfield Farm’s continued progress on the use of male calves from the dairy industry and their innovative marketing of the product to the consumer as ‘Lite Beef’.
“Rearing male dairy calves in higher welfare systems, as practiced by Brookfield Farm, ensure these calves are no longer an unwanted by-product of the dairy industry, and are able to have a good quality of life delivering a high quality product.” www.musclefood.com