How About an Australus Steak on the Grill?Don't Want to Throw a Kangaroo on the Grill? Magazine Poll Renames Kangaroo Meat As Australus
SYDNEY, Australia Dec 19, 2005 — Does the idea of tossing a kangaroo steak on the grill upset you? How about a tender cut of australus? A food magazine's hunt for a new name for kangaroo meat aimed at putting a spring in the step of efforts to sell the product has a winner, media reported Tuesday.
More than 2,700 people from 41 nations entered the Sydney-based Food Companion International magazine competition to rename meat derived from one of Australia's best-loved and most-recognizable animals.
Before settling on australus, judges skipped over suggestions including "kangarly," "maroo," and "kangasaurus."
Millions of kangaroos are culled each year, to prevent them eating crops and to supply meat but most of the kangaroo cuts go to pet food suppliers and only a small percentage is sold for human consumption.
Australia's kangaroo population fluctuates depending on weather conditions, but is estimated at up to 50 million more than double the country's human population.
Magazine editor Mel Nathan told The Sydney Morning Herald "australus" sounded dignified and predicted it could be a breakthrough for the kangaroo meat industry.
Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia executive officer John Kelly told the Sydney paper that although the company sponsored the competition, it had no serious intention of changing the meat's name.
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