Jack den Haan Apr 14, 2010:

Re: etiquette for closing this question I 've entered 'stamps' as a formal answer, Ben. If you like, you can simply accept that answer (or any others that may still come in), award any points and close the question -- after waiting 24 hours, of course.

Ben Hickman (asker) Apr 14, 2010:

Thank you both, Jack and Carolyn, for your input. I've decided to simply go with 'stamps'. What is the proper etiquette for closing this question, Jack?

Ben Hickman (asker) Apr 14, 2010:

Perhaps Jack is right after all... Googling [+stempels +vlees] produces quite a number of articles about 'cutting away stamps on meat', so perhaps this is what they are referring to after all. I was having a hard time imagining a cows tongue being stamped, but I suppose they burn some kind of a mark on it for tracking/tracing purposes.

Carolyn Gille Apr 14, 2010:

lingual tonsils is one of the things mention, which needs to be removed (and is not one of the other things mentioned in the sentence)...

Ben Hickman (asker) Apr 14, 2010:

That was my initial thought, too, Jack. But then I found a number of recipes in which 'stempels' was one of the things to be removed from the meat. See: http://www.vakrecepturen.nl/Recepten-fotos/drogeworst/drw030...

Jack den Haan Apr 14, 2010:

Could this just refer to stamps, markings etc. used in the meat industry to designate abattoirs, inspector approval etc.