Ethically sourced meat

competitionscafe

zcrat41 wrote: »

Red Tractor Red Tractor Red Tractor Red Tractor.

I can't emphasize this enough. Its a symbol used to show that the meat has been reared in the UK to UK welfare standards that are one of the highest in the world.

The Red Tractor scheme, run by Assured Food Standards offers few welfare benefits compared with standard industry practice and generally only ensure compliance with minimum legislative requirements (the interpretation of which is considered inadequate in some cases).
http://www.ciwf.org.uk/your_food/know_your_labels/default.aspx

http://www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk/news-a-tv/latest-news/125-porkies-not-pork.html

competitionscafe

redlady_1 wrote: »

I have no doubt that ethically Pipers are good but I am curious to know what else is out there.

You could also try Big Barn (and search by postcode to find suppliers local to you)
http://www.bigbarn.co.uk/discounts/

competitionscafe

lostinrates wrote: »

People who care will spend time reading packaging of raw meat, milk and eggs, but forget the ready made stuff...sandwiches out, icecream etc etc etc.

I was surprised to discover that premium products like Haagen Daz and Gu do not use free-range eggs for example (and therefore I no longer buy them). Both Waitrose (own brand) and Marks and Spencer products all use free range eggs and contain no trans fats - but of course neither of these two places are particularly cheap.

lostinrates

competitionscafe wrote: »

I was surprised to discover that premium products like Haagen Daz and Gu do not use free-range eggs for example (and therefore I no longer buy them). Both Waitrose (own brand) and Marks and Spencer products all use free range eggs and contain no trans fats - but of course neither of these two places are particularly cheap.

I'll be honest, I get caught by it sometimes too.....one of the things I checked that I have bought in the past was cheese flavoured tortilla chips. I guess its a little like being a vegan: you have to check labelling.

Rummer

We have pretty much stopped eating meat due to the horrendous costs and the ethical issues. I would love to treat my family to affordable and happily raised and slaughtered meat but it just seems to be an overwhelming process to identify!

sams247

Well I did a lot of research into this a while back, as we only eat chicken in the 'meat' category, and although I wanted good quality meat I also began to think about the deaths, as in how my food died. I wrote to a lot of places I shopped from and asked them where and how they 'harvested' their livestock. The answers (and not all answered) were open and honest in all cases and it helped me make decisions. Perhaps the place I was most impressed with was http://www.fresh-n-local.co.uk/producers/ClaresOrganics.htm

redlady_1

Update on the meat...Sunday was "chook" day. The Beast of Wilts was finally going to be devoured by two hungry bods. I decided that every last piece of him would be eaten (except the gibs as FK stuck her nose in the air and refused to eat them)

I can report that it tasted stunning and have worked out that we have had two roast dinners, 3 curries, 6 fajitas, sandwiches for two all week (his nibs took a takeaway tub of meat home with him) and 3 lots of top stock. Now I know I could have stretched this out even further but just wanted to see how long he would last without all the padding.

This means that from one chook we have had 20 meals. So my £18 chicken has worked out pretty well in the scheme of things.

Now, would I buy from Pipers again? No. I was very impressed with the chicken but everything else was nice but nothing special and was very expensive. My next quest is going to be the farm shop I spoke about earlier in the thread as I went one Sunday (it wasnt open) but they were advertising local lamb.

lostinrates

Redlady, i pmed you about some beef as promised in this thread. In fact, i pmed you first and then thought i better check the thread to check i had contacted the right person!

Just to be clear for mse rules, this is not my meat, nor do i benefit from its sale! Its not cheap i don't think...i have agreed terms with the guy so not actually sure what he is charging, but it willbe cheaper than the same quality from a butcher. Aberdeen angus, hung three weeks, not organic, but very good welfare conditions from field to box and the farmer is very conscious of producing a good product. Nice guy too....quite young, earnest, so helping a producer get a foot in a local ethical market.

The quality really is excellent. As well as being AA choice has gone into stock selection within the breed. We had his beef for christmas and i was verypleased.

I am now busy trying to make room in the freezer for the fifteen kilos he told me to expect today....having giving me no warning to expect any...that part of his business could do with improvment!

redlady_1

Hi there LiR

I have just picked up the PM and will be giving him a ring later this evening. It certainly sounds like the perfect scheme for me. Organic is not something I am fanatical about providing there has been good welfare.

Much appreciated