Emu Meat’s Benefits, Advantages and Nutritional Information

Purchase Emu Meat

Where to Buy
Emu Meat in Kansas

Benefits

A tasty red meat.
Free from growth hormones.
Low in fat and cholesterol.
High in levels of selenium, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, Vitamins C, B-6, and B-12.
97% fat free, containing only 3 grams of fat per 3.5 ounce serving. The fat is 43 percent monounsaturated, which lowers the "bad" LDL cholesterol.
Rich in iron, magnesium, and protein.
A good source of high levels of phosphorus which are usually found only in seafood.

Advantages

Your food dollar buys nutrient rich meat, not fat, skin, or bone when you invest in emu.
Emu possesses a mild flavor which is a bonus, especially if you are choosing to use this meat for its health benefits. In fact, it readily accepts marinades, spices, and sauces.
Shorter cooking times, which means that it is on the dining table faster.
There is minimal shrinkage when cooked due to the low fat in emu meat. You need only use 3/4 of the amount of meat called for in your recipe when you substitute with emu.
The American Heart Association recognizes emu as a heart healthy alternative meat.

The American Heart Association includes emu in its listing of heart healthy meats. Barry Sears, internationally known author of The Zone, includes emu in his dietary recommendations.

See the nutritional comparison chart below.

Give your body a treat – try emu for dinner, breakfast or lunch, see our Tips for Chef for more information about emu meat as well as preparation tips.

Nutritional Composition of Ground Meats

Per 100 grams of cooked product (3.5 oz serving)

	RDI⁵	Venison¹	Ostrich¹	Emu¹	Bison¹	Beef²	Turkey²	Elk¹
Protein (gm)	50	26.5	26.2	28.4	24.2	25	27.4	26.6
Fat (gm)	< 65⁴	8.2	7.1	4.7	14.8	16.4	13.2	8.4
% Saturated Fat³	--	52	30	25	44	39	26	48
Cholesterol (mg)	< 300	98	83	87	85	81	102	78
Iron (mg)	18	3.4	3.4	5	3.1	2.4	1.9	3.3
Calories (kcal)	--	189	175	164	237	255	235	190
Copper (mg)	2	0.13	0.14	0.24	0.21	0.09	0.09	0.14
Sodium (mg)	< 2400	78	80	65	67	70	107	85
Magnesium (mg)	420	23.9	22.6	28.7	19.8	21	24	23.7
Manganese (mg)	--	0.013	0.017	0.03	0.01	0.016	0.02	0.011
Phosphorus (mg)	1000	228	224	269	184	160	196	221
Potassium (mg)	--	364	323	375	306	312	270	345
Selenium (mcg)	--	10	34	44	35	19	37	17
Zing (mg)	15	5.2	4.3	4.6	4.3	5.4	2.9	6.6
Folic Acid (mcg)	420	8.2	14	9	15.1	9	7	7.7
Vitamin B₁₂ (mcg)	6	2.3	5.7	8.5	2.3	2	0.33	2.6
Vitamin B₆ (mg)	2	0.47	0.5	0.83	0.37	0.27	0.39	0.42
Thiamin (mg)	1.2	0.5	0.21	0.32	0.12	0.06	0.05	0.13
Niacin (mg)	16	9.3	6.6	8.9	4.9	4.7	4.8	5.3
Riboflavin (mg)	1.3	0.33	0.27	0.55	0.26	0.26	0.17	0.32

Shaded areas indicate most desired in that classification. (gm=grams, mg=milligrams, mcg=micrograms, Kcal=kilocalories)

¹ = Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison, June, 2000 Alternative Meat Study funded by USDA
² = Source: United States Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
³ = percent of fat composed of saturated fatty acids
⁴ = Based upon 2000 calorie diet
⁵ = Reference Daily Intake (National Academy of Sciences)