《中英對照讀新聞》What is veal? 何謂小牛肉？

Veal has been served in national dishes all across Europe for centuries. But what is it ? The European Union needs to know. European consumers are invited to write to an Internet site sponsored by the European Commission to say what they understand to be its color, tenderness and flavor.

小牛肉數個世紀來一直出現在歐洲各國的菜餚之中。不過它是什麼？歐洲聯盟必須了解。歐洲消費者獲邀寫信給歐洲執行委員會贊助的一個網站，說出他們所了解的小牛肉色澤、柔嫩度與滋味。

Definitions of what the meat is, or should be, vary across the EU mainly due to differences in national farming systems and in weights and ages of calves at slaughter, the Commission says.

這種肉到底是或應該是什麼定義，在歐盟各地不盡相同，主要是由於各國農牧制度與被宰小牛體重和年齡的差異，該委員會表示。

"At the moment, meats with different characteristics are sold on the EU market under the denomination 'veal' without the consumer always being correctly informed on what he or she is buying," it said in a statement. Veal is usually available in Europe as scallops, cutlets, chops, roasts, stew meat, breast and shank. It is appreciated for its delicate taste and tender texture.

「目前，有多種不同特色的肉品以『小牛肉』名義在歐盟市場販賣，消費者無法每次都正確獲知他或她買的是什麼。」該委員會在一項聲明中表示。小牛肉在歐洲通常以去骨薄片、薄肉片、肉排、烤肉、燉肉、胸肉與腿肉等型態出現。小牛肉因其細緻口感與柔嫩質地而獲好評。

Dictionary-新聞辭典

veal：名詞，小牛肉，即來自小牛（calf）的食用肉。來自成年牛隻（cow）的肉稱為 beef。

sponsor：動詞，贊助；名詞，贊助者、擔保人。例句：If I am going to go and live in the United States, I must get an American sponsor. （如果我要到美國，並在那裡居住，必須要有美國籍的擔保人。）

vary：動詞，不同、變化。例句：The price varies according to the season. （價格隨季節改變。）

at the moment：片語，現在、目前。例句：I am very busy at the moment, but I will do it later. （我現在非常忙，但稍後會處理它。）

denomination：名詞，名稱、教派。例句：The service was attended by Christians of all denominations.（所有教派基督徒都參加這場禮拜儀式。）