Training for more accurate visual fat estimation in meat

Much animal fat in the diet is contained in meal. As fat intake is consider ed too high in western societies! a more fat-conscious attitude may be desi rable. One of the parties involved is the butcher, who sells fresh meat dir ectly to the consumer. In a pre-post experimental design, with an interpola ted training phase, the possibility to improve the ability of student butch ers to visually estimate fat content of meat, was investigated. A limited n umber of training sessions, in which immediate feed-back was given of the a ctual fat percentage after each estimation, led to a large improvement in f at estimation accuracy. A delayed post-test indicated that most of the trai ning effect was preserved after six weeks. Similarities between the observe d learning process and informational feedback learning with numerosity stim uli were discussed. On the basis of these results it is recommended that co urses for trainee butchers include a short course on fat estimation in thei r curriculum. If butchers sell what they think they sell, consumers are mor e likely to get what they think they get. Increased 'fat awareness' may ind irectly contribute to healthier eating habits. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Lt d. All rights reserved.