Organic food in supermarkets

Kirri

Riverford olives were in a pot last Christmas, wonder how the pouch compares?

For anyone on facebook, have a look at the 'Whole Foods Market London' page, some amazing photos of the Richmond store!!

Edwardia

Although the photo of the packaging is different on Abel & Cole's website they are the same olives, thanks soph !

The link shows that Ocado has them on offer at the moment for 2.60. However Ocado's usual price for the 250g is 3.90 whereas Abel & Cole's usual price is 3.49, saving 41p.

Edwardia

For those, like me, who don't do Facebook, there's a YouTube video of opening day, Whole Foods Market, Richmond-Upon-Thames
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PgvXa68sWU

There are lots of Meet the Producer videos on the WholeFoodsMarketUK video channel and you get to see behind the scenes eg Laverstoke Park, Cat and the Cream etc etc. Makes me feel (a) hungry (b) lucky to be able to eat such food instead of stuff full of chemicals.

However, I do feel that if organic food can be made without chemicals and tastes good.. what are those chemicals really doing in our food ??

Kirri

^ I wish they weren't allowed to put so many additives in food - and wish so many people didn't think that was 'normal'.

Wow glad I didn't go on opening day after seeing that vid ^ much more crowded than I imagined! I thought it might be too busy to look round properly. Bit worried how much I will want to spend when visiting there!!!

Quasar, if you get there before me, let us know how it compares to the Kensington branch.

Edwardia

Whole Foods Markets has another store opening in January 2014 at 2 -6 Fulham Broadway.

I suspect chemicals are added to extend the life of the product without it going rancid and to make sub-standard stuff taste better.

OH wanted to try Gregg's now that Iceland does them, as we don't have one in our town and he wanted to know why they are so popular. I looked at them and :eek:

Here's the link I sent husband who decided no way was he going to eat the Cornish pasty. Carboxy methyl cellulose sounds more like an ingredient in wallpaper paste :eek:

http://groceries.iceland.co.uk/greggs-2-cornish-pasties-362g/p/53855

As a contrast here's a link to Ginster's pasties which aren't organic, and yes contain things like potato starch and palm oil but nothing which belongs in a test tube either. http://www.ginsters.co.uk/products/pasties

The West Cornwall Pasty Co makes proper Cornish pasties which have PGI status and no additives or preservatives. http://www.westcornwallpasty.co.uk/about-us-2/our-food/

The organic Christmas pudding arrived in Fortnum & Mason box today. When I opened it I got an explosion of foam pellets which made my kitchen floor look like I had dropped a box of straight white Wotsits. It's from Highgrove, in a smart red box.

Kirri

I was up in Fulham Broadway recently, didn't notice a building site for that, I must have walked right past where it's opening though.

OMG ^ what a huge list of ingredients in one simple pasty! I've never been in a Greggs, seems like a fake bakers to me - can only presume it's really cheap?? and yep cross between huge shelf life and taste with all that bizarre stuff in it.

The only pasty I've eaten this year is from Cornwall - admittedly I didn't check the ingredients but they were making them in the window of the shop and they were rather tasty.. (they deliver too, still can't see the ingredients list though.. http://www.pengennapasties.co.uk/pages/products/product_list.htm

Highgrove stuff sounds nicely packaged :rotfl:

Edwardia

Here's the PGI which details what a Cornish pasty is !

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/218651/cornish-pasty-pgi.pdf

Kirri

Edwardia wrote: »

Here's the PGI which details what a Cornish pasty is !

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/218651/cornish-pasty-pgi.pdf

Can't believe how detailed that is! Strictly speaking then, as mine didn't contain beef, it wasn't a real one then!

Like this bit:

Cornish Pasties must be free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.

Edwardia

Kirri wrote: »

Cornish Pasties must be free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.

Wondering how Greggs are getting away with calling theirs Cornish pasties :eek:

Holland & Barrett Penny Sale back on again, got email today.

Kirri

For anyone into GYO, the new 2014 Organic Gardening Catalogue is out, I've just ordered a few seeds (P&P £1.50 up to £12 and speedy delivery last time I used them), will order more in the Spring..

http://www.organiccatalogue.com/catalogue.php

Tried the Provamel organic soya caramel dessert tonight, first spoonful was a bit weird, the caramel flavour seems to come through after. Got used to it but not quite what I was expecting.