Bought some Marks Spencers Mince Pies trying to convince granddaughter that they are not mincemeat, says on the packet, filled with our fruity classic mincemeat, where is the "meat"
I believe many years ago that a lot of fruit was added to minced meat to preserve and to diguise the flovour of skanky meat. These days we just have the fruit without the meat, I believe that to be the origin of Mincemeat.
A quick glance in the Oxford Dictionary shows that 'meat' at one time could be used to mean food of any kind (and not just animal flesh). [In the USA it continues to be used to include the edible parts of fruits, nuts, eggs, shellfish, etc.]
So you can tell your granddaughter that 'mincemeat' is simply using the word 'meat' in an old-fashioned way, which has nothing to do with animal flesh.
Explain to her that minced meat and mincemeat are not at all the same thing - she only has to look at the ingredients, she'll find no "meat" but might find animal products.
Well, I did make mincemeat using "meat" once, including the suet. I did not like it all , the texture, etc. was not especially desirable. I supposed if you were starving you might think it as being tasty. The all fruit version was much more tasty. The recipe using meat would take some getting used to.