Organic food in supermarkets

Kirri

What is the Vit D issue in flax? I should probably google this..

Re 9 or 6, I've never supplemented much before apart from following a mammogram where I was advised to take Eve Prim, but as I have the supplements here I thought I'd take them this time. I'm not mad on olives, mostly I hate them but first ones I've properly eaten were only this year. I tend to pick them out if eating out.. and I've never eaten an avocado.. Not sure what else it comes in tbh to know whether I'd be getting enough. Do eat other seeds though mainly sunflower/pumpkin. Have never knowingly bought Omega enriched eggs I don't think, I can't say I've looked though that closely (and would have no idea which eggs are from seed fed chickens either).

sophlowe45

Yes suspiciously cheap, they are not on Ocado or Waitrose websites yet, only the 9 packs.

I think Waitrose are rebranding lots of products, I ordered Organic mature cheddar from Ocado and it turned up in new style packaging, different from the image shown on Ocado. Instore today I saw the new packaging for all the organic cheddar. Its delicious by the way, does not taste strong at all, I wonder why?

When I googled flaxseeds before ordering with Ethical Superstore, I read articles saying it was not good to eat flaxseeds at all. I didn't realise at the time linseed was the same thing and now I have packets of the stuff.

lindseykim13

sophlowe45 wrote: »

Yes suspiciously cheap, they are not on Ocado or Waitrose websites yet, only the 9 packs.

I think Waitrose are rebranding lots of products, I ordered Organic mature cheddar from Ocado and it turned up in new style packaging, different from the image shown on Ocado. Instore today I saw the new packaging for all the organic cheddar. Its delicious by the way, does not taste strong at all, I wonder why?

When I googled flaxseeds before ordering with Ethical Superstore, I read articles saying it was not good to eat flaxseeds at all. I didn't realise at the time linseed was the same thing and now I have packets of the stuff.

I can't say this is fact or not but I won't touch flaxseeds again for the very reason that once I started eating them (to help with hormones) I got ibs! Could well be coincidence but I felt so ill i'll never touch them again.

sophlowe45

this was the article i read, please note in no way am I saying I think this article is valid, the information could be incorrect.

http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2009/03/flax-seed-and-oil-phytoestrogens-phytic-acid-and-pregnancy-risks.html

http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2009/03/hemp-seed-nutritional-value-and-thoughts.html

Callie22

Kirri wrote: »

Not tried dough improver, but what is flour treatment agent (E300) ?

E300 is ascorbic acid, or vitamin C - although there's a lot of debate about whether it has any health benefit in this form as it's denatured by the manufacturing processes. It's used a lot in commercial bakeries and dough improvers as it encourages the gluten to relax, so allows for shorter fermentation times. If you're making bread the traditional way (i.e. not by the 'quick' Chorleywood process) then you don't need it, and in fact it can actually stop your bread rising properly. It tends to be recommended a lot for breadmaking machines because they use the Chorleywood process and the bread tends to need a bit of help to rise.

Edwardia

Callie's post hadn't arrived as I was writing mine - apologies for content overlap

Good question.. I don't know why they put E300 since many people would recognise ascorbic acid or l-ascorbic acid as being vitamin C. It's not used in quantities to be either harmful or beneficial. Bread purists don't like it though.

Ascorbic acid allows gas to expand quickly and evenly through the bread so the loaf rises faster and is an even texture. It also works on the gluten in the bread so you don't get a rock-hard-will-break-windows-crust. And it makes the loaf springy so it gives customers the illusion that it's fresh even though it could be an instore part-baked loaf made from frozen dough.

I guess it's allowed in organic stuff because it's vitamin C. I looked up how long it's been used commercially and it's since the 1930s, to replace other chemical improvers. It's been used in breadmaking in home kitchens as well for some recipes for yonks too.

It's pretty neutral as a substance, and if you don't like leaden bread, it's probably a positive.

Re: the eggs I think the free range egg market is getting more competitive. I recall A&C put the price of their free range organic down last year. Duchy originals from Waitrose organic free range eggs from Colombian black tailed hens were probably the most expensive eggs in supermarkets. Taste good but just didn't seem as fresh as A&C.

You can read the British Free Range Egg Producers' Association website www.theranger.co.uk Lastest issues include farmers being undecided whether to get out of free range eggs and farmers wanting supermarkets to allow them to feed GM feed.

I hadn't spotted the Organic Surge offer. There was one on Ocado in December and OH bought me lots. However though it says hypoallergenic I found it stings my skin :eek: I'm using Little Me organic baby stuff instead now from ASDA

Edwardia

I'm kinda cynical about supplements myself, I'm not convinced that they are manufactured in a way in which the body can really utilise them easily and they tend to be expensive.

My mother takes so many she rattles but at least the Swiss stuff she gets is prescribed for her as an individual, by a GP who now specialises in homeopathic medicine.

Cheese.. a few months ago Sainsbury's started doing own brand mature organic cheese and they've got a long-term offer on organic cheeses going. Lidl has had organic Farmhouse Cheddar as well. Wouldn't be at all surprised if there is either a new player in the organic cheesemaking sector or that Lye Cross Farm has upped its production.

I find the organic cheese in Sainsbury's a bit bland.. nice but bland.. but the Fresh Meadow from Lidl was a tad crumbly but really flavourful IMO.

Seeds and nuts.. off top of head I use pine nuts, walnuts, cashews, brazils, hazelnuts and cobnuts in season. When we lived in the country I foraged chestnuts and beech nuts also. Use sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, mustard seeds. Looking to replace nut/seed oils with organic as they run out eg sesame and walnut. Like to make my own dressings since I eat quite a bit of raw veg/salad. Since developing type 2 diabetes I haven't had Clement Faugier chestnut puree which I used to lurve, even unsweetened

Fire_Fox

Kirri wrote: »

What is the Vit D issue in flax? I should probably google this..

Re 9 or 6, I've never supplemented much before apart from following a mammogram where I was advised to take Eve Prim, but as I have the supplements here I thought I'd take them this time. I'm not mad on olives, mostly I hate them but first ones I've properly eaten were only this year. I tend to pick them out if eating out.. and I've never eaten an avocado.. Not sure what else it comes in tbh to know whether I'd be getting enough. Do eat other seeds though mainly sunflower/pumpkin. Have never knowingly bought Omega enriched eggs I don't think, I can't say I've looked though that closely (and would have no idea which eggs are from seed fed chickens either).

Bioavailable vitamin D is in oily fish and little else, in the summer we manufacture our own using sunlight. If we are relying on fish body oils or vegetarian sources including flax it's not replacing the D - there is D3 added to that Opti-3 tho.

You can purchase omega-enriched eggs tho they seem to be getting harder to come by, there used to be Columbus and Goldenlay brands in the supermarkets. These are from chickens, usually free range, fed a more natural diet containing more seeds than usual so the chickens helpfully convert some of the short chain ALA to long chain DHA/ EPA. Some organic eggs will be fed a seed rich diet too, but I guess you would need to research individual suppliers/ have a local farm, back to Edwardia's traceability. There is a little vitamin D in eggs too.

Sunflower seeds are very rich in omega-6s, pumpkin contain more of a balance of omega-6 and omega-3. Chia seeds are as rich in short chain omega-3s as flax, I haven't tried them yet so cannot comment on flavour. I tend to have pumpkin seeds because they are so rich in magnesium which I really need.

Edwardia wrote: »

I'm kinda cynical about supplements myself, I'm not convinced that they are manufactured in a way in which the body can really utilise them easily and they tend to be expensive.

My mother takes so many she rattles but at least the Swiss stuff she gets is prescribed for her as an individual, by a GP who now specialises in homeopathic medicine.

Agree completely: I'd much rather clients ate a wide variety of wholefoods but that is not always possible or practical. O-3s are the only thing I recommend to clients fairly routinely because unfortunately few can/ will eat oily fish regularly, occasionally freeze dried probiotics or a couple of herbs that have an evidence base. There is a strong body of research on the benefits of supplementing DHA and EPA, and I've seen good results with myself and with clients.

The research is equivocal on the omega-6 GLA, those who benefit appear to be those who have a genetic issue with converting LA to GLA or whose diet is deficient in essential fatty acids full stop (eg. very low fat diet). GLA is not found in wholefoods but LA is abundant. To complicate matters the level of omega-6 in the body affects omega-3 conversion and vice versa.

Some take individual and small groups of vitamins or minerals to replace foods they cannot eat due to allergies or absorption issues, but that is always tailored to the individual and usually medic led. You can do so much more harm than good by not understanding the balance of the diet, I cringe at what I read of some people taking on forums especially mega dosing.

**Yes I did mean mega not omega!

Edwardia

Choline
http://www.theranger.co.uk/News/Eggs-could-improve-health-of-unborn-babies_21846.html

Omega 3 to improve bone health of birds
http://www.theranger.co.uk/News/Omega-3-in-diet-could-reduce-bone-damage-in-layers_21870.html

GM feed for poultry
http://www.theranger.co.uk/News/When-your-Non-GM-products-contain-GM-Supermarkets-must-act-_21859.html
http://www.theranger.co.uk/News/Egg-producers-call-on-major-retailers-to-abandon-Non-GM-rule_21858.html
ASDA and Morrisons allow poultry farmers to feed non organic poultry with GM feed.

Edwardia

Holland & Barrett to launch Click & Collect
http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/companies/holland-and-barrett-to-revamp-website-offer-click-and-collect/238126.article

Salt reduction targets
http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/topics/salt-reduction-targets-should-go-further-report-says/238160.article

Tackle food waste by feeding to cows
http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/topics/tackle-food-waste-by-feeding-it-to-cows-retailers-urged/238151.article
In the USA non-organic cattle already get fed M&Ms !

MPs call for ban on neonicotinoid pesticides
http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/topics/mps-call-for-ban-on-neonicotinoid-pesticides-to-protect-bees/238153.article

Raw milk vending machine in Selfridges gets reprieve
http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/fmcg/fsa-drops-charges-against-selfridges-over-raw-milk-vending-machine/238037.article