Supermarket Secrets revealed?

catznine

I watched last nights programme with great interest but do feel slightly disappointed that it didn't really come up with anything new for me but I have read both "Shopped" and "Not on the Label" so am pre warned I feel. I do however feel it is all about getting a good balance between cost and conscience.

I have for some time now been getting an organic fruit and veg box from local producers and pop to a local fruit farm for any extras I might need and the price is pretty much the same as the supermarket. We don't eat so much meat now and I do try to buy free range/organic where possible, but the price for this is high and I have to make up for this by stretching the meat in my recipes (don't often have roasts anymore!) but the plus side is a much healthier diet and we don't feel bloated after our meals anymore.

A friend who has health problems recommended organic milk some time ago so we had already made that change and it doesn't cost a lot more and to make up for it we use a little less. But I now worry about the dried milk I use in cooking and making yogurt but I refuse to lose sleep over it. I think it is best to just make the changes that you feel most comfortable about and can afford.

trace-j

I missed the first program, but having been in a chicken processing plant and many other food manufacturing premises I am under no illusions as to what goes on.

I'm not going to defend the supermarkets, but I thought the program I saw last night in the main was a load of cheap shots at the supermarkets expense. Many producers and farmers were complaining about what specifications they had to meet and the volumes of wastage it was costing their businesses. Although I do sympathise, they did have a choice in the beginning whether to do business with the supermarkets or not. Anybody involved in running a business will have to weigh up the risks associated with putting all your eggs in one basket. They would have been under no illusion when they signed the contract what they being asked to deliver and what the would risk if the didn't keep up.

On the other hand it was good for the masses who don't know, to see what goes on behind scenes. It really is unbelievable what goes on to maximise profits in any large food business.

Although I can't give up making trips to my local supermarket, I'll certainly be making more an effort to buy my meat fruit and veg from the local shop in future.

The supermarkets will deliver what the consumer wants, if its cheap goods then expect more producers to lose stupid amounts of money. If we want quality and to support producers we know where to go.

moggins

The trouble is that we on this website already know most of these things, after all we are already here because we want to make changes to our lifestyle and our way of shopping. There are an awful lot of people out there who don't, who are completely misinformed and truly believe there is no other way.

I know that I am very lucky in where I live, there are two fantastic farmers markets, an outdoor market which is unfortunately being squeezed into a smaller and smaller area because of the supermarket greed, within an easy walk of 2 good butchers and a short drive away from a fantastic greengrocers (I could walk there but the amount I buy when I get there I could not carry home)

Unless we support our local shops, producers and markets we will lose them, it is as simple as that. It's no point just complaining about the situation unless we are prepared to put our money where our mouth is. Quite literally.

Loadsabob

lipidicman wrote:

I thought everyone knew this.

That's why I said I was naive! I can't believe that passed me by...but it had, until now.

lipidicman wrote:

As twee as the Archer's is it has more journalistic integrity than Ms Moore. My heart sank when I saw that she was behind this programme. At some points I was expecting Trevor McDonald to pop up at any moment: this programme had ITV written all over it!

Yes, I agree. I find her unconvincing and very difficult to watch, and it DID feel very ITV. Flimsy and fractured, grasping at a lot of unrelated points.

lipidicman wrote:

I haven't read the whole thread, but is no-one seeing through her incomplete arguments?

I think so. I don't think people are particularly impressed by the journalism. But behind her "arguments" are facts that a lot of us were already aware of. The fact that she presented them in a flimsy, two dimensional, fairly unsubstantiated way is unfortunate.

lipidicman wrote:

The test on the pesticide residues in the fruit were BELOW the limits. The criticism was that they were more than in the processed food. But is this a fair comparison? The oranges were unwashed (AFAIK) and were chopped and tested UNPEELED. Who eats their oranges like this? A very poor comparison.

Although it's fair to say that the point was that although the pesticide residues in fruit were lower than government limits, they were much higher than the limits set for baby food. And the comparison was off-the-shelf baby food versus shop bought fruit, which many parents puree instead of shop-bought baby food. Then the likelihood of pesticdes entering the baby's diet was more from the fruit than the processed babyfood. And she did say there were 16 separate tests, so not all of them oranges.

lipidicman wrote:

Also, she bleeted on about produce being moved around the country by the supermarkets. However she was quite happy to hop in the car to buy and transport a few bags of fruit and veg.

Yes, I totally agree.

lipidicman wrote:

I was most aghast at the arguments on the school lunch. So, the peeled chopped carrots cost more than the fresh ones, REALLY? Small prepacked cheese the same? No stop now, you are shattering my illusions. I can read price labels you know, and the supermarkets helpfully give you a price per kilo.

Yes, this was really weak, and a total after-thought, and not a surprise OR a scandal, but simply the cashing in on lazy people who can't be bothered to read the packets. Fair enough! It really steered the programme towards a very weak ending.

lipidicman wrote:

Jane Moore could have highlighted the fact that so much unhealthy food is promoted - BOGOFs on fruit is fine by me.

Yes, there were more powerful arguments to be made, and I wish that someone smarter had got hold of the programme and made it. But personally, I do find the BOGOF's objectionable, because if I want to support organic producers, as I do, I don't want to give to them with one hand and take away with the other.

lipidicman wrote:

This programme was very weak, it had no coherent argument to make and the quality of the investigation was way below what I expect from channel 4.

It's unfortunate, because I think there was a very good argument to be made, and potentially a very cohesive one. However, this programme didn't rise to the challenge, and that is a shame. I'm still pleased that a mainstream audience may feel compelled to look a little further into the subject.

BWZN93

Loadsabob wrote:

I was also sick at the thought of 1/3 of produce being discraded for being imperfect. I know, we all knew that already, but just thinking about it made me so angry.

That annoyed me too - Id be quite happy to buy produce that wasnt perfect looking if it was good quality and taste, and organic to boot! All that great food going to waste - that could feed so many people for nothing - all because a potato wasnt oval shaped. If they could bring down the cost by not wasting this - or even had budget organic (ill buy it!) ranges of 'misshapen' foods, id be more than happy to buy it. As it stands, ill be finding local producers and markets from now on as it is rediculous.

Also - did anyone else notice those spanish red peppers that were all twisted and stuff? The colour was amazing and my mouth practically started to water I wanted to eat them so much. I looked at the one in my fridge, and it seemed sadly lacking somewhat....

Jo xx

lipidicman

Those spanish peppers were between colours - that happens in my fridge sometimes.

Also, those potatoes were not wasted. The cattle ate them!

Loadsabob

lipidicman wrote:

Also, those potatoes were not wasted. The cattle ate them!

Yeah, which is exactly why organic farmers go into business, to produce cattle feed! :rolleyes: Poor guy, I could really feel his frustration at throwing away perfectly good potatoes.

Loadsabob

trace-j wrote:

Although I do sympathise, they did have a choice in the beginning whether to do business with the supermarkets or not. Anybody involved in running a business will have to weigh up the risks associated with putting all your eggs in one basket.

I'm quite heartened by the incresing number of producers shunning the supermarklets and selling direct to their customers. Where possible, I'll support them. There were some on the programme last night, and I've seen Westcountry apple growers who have turned their backs on the supermarkets and sell at farmers' markets instead. Hopefully with more of us looking to buy direct, these people will be able to make a living and more of them will tell the supermarkets where to shove their exclusive contracts.

competitionscafe

Loadsabob wrote:

Hopefully with more of us looking to buy direct, these people will be able to make a living and more of them will tell the supermarkets where to shove their exclusive contracts.

The BBC Food Heroes site is quite useful for finding producers - " Food Heroes are the producers of traditional cheeses, unusual fruit and vegetables, local breads and well-produced meat, poultry and fish. The Food Heroes directory helps you locate food heroes near you".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/food_heroes/directory_index.shtml

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Badgergal

Following on from my frustration at not being able to get an organic box due to being out all day (I emailed some companies asking about pickup but so far no reply) I am going to have a look for some Farmer's Markets instead. Apparently there is one in Pimlico which is not too far from me, I could be very good and cycle there!

If anyone knows of any good Farmer's Markets in South/Central London, let me know...