Debo comer carne/la carne.

Debo comer carne/la carne.
 

Very simple but confusing.

I must eat meat.

Debo comer carne. Meat in general
Debo comer la carne. Some specific meat

It seems like I have seem both used interchangeably
I know I have read about the "la" usage but can't recall what it was all about in this context.

Gracias otra vez. Bob

Without the article, the sentence is a general statement about the need/duty/command to eat any meat.

- Debo comer carne.
- Debo comer carne de res, no de cerdo.
- Debo comer carne que no sea roja.
- Debo comer carne bien cocida, pero a mí me gusta a la inglesa.


"La" is needed only when there is a very specific idea about what meat you are talking about.

- Debo comer la carne que cocinó mi esposa.
- Debo comer la carne de este guisado, aunque sólo me gustan las verduras.
- Debo comer la carne que está en el refrigerador o se va a echar a perder.