More(or is it mare) to come

[OverWyreGrower]

But bute is a painkiller - most horses on large doses of it probably aren't going to make it (according to my horse owning friends) - so shouldn't be in the food chain anyway! I have no issues with medicating animals IF and WHEN they need it.

My issue is with things in the food chain that shouldn't be there, or mis-representation of what thiings are.

I've eaten horse meat (by choice), and I'd eat it again, but I'd like to chose it myself thanks, not have it secretly foisted onto me.

This week we've eaten - chicken, pigeon, rabbit and salmon. We've got more rabbit and pigeon in the freezer, plus venison and pheasant.

I've got 3 lots of beef-items in the freezer (mince and joints). They are from Riverford Organic - but even then, how much can you trust them?

[Thelma Sanders]

they might stop pumping horses full of drugs

With the high cost of vets and animal drugs, I doubt there are many people that use them unless really necessarily.

[alldigging]

Organic - but even then, how much can you trust them?

If you can't trust a label to say beef then how can you trust a label that says organic?

[Rhona]

If you can't trust a label to say beef then how can you trust a label that says organic?

That's one of my concerns. I try to keep our diet more or less organic. We don't eat much meat, and I've always bought carefully, but the widespread nature of this is worrying. I've ordered a meat box from a local farm shop, where I can see the animals myself wandering around the estate, and I'm making my own sausages etc. We've also got one of the remaining Real Meat shops a stone's throw away, so we're lucky. It'll be a long time before I trust any kind of pre-made meat product!

[OverWyreGrower]

Ack - my quoting isn't working...

However, alldigging - exactly - I've lost trust in food labelling altogether!

[alldigging]

local farm shop, where I can see the animals myself wandering around the estate,

How do you know it's those animals you are buying?

There's a lovely little story about a bloke who runs a pub who has a few chickens in the garden and sells eggs at the bar. Boxes and boxes of them a week he sells. With just a few chickens in in the garden.

I am perhaps far too cynical. :-/

[bubblewrap]

Now its getting really bad.

It was announced today that vegetarian's are up in arms after lamb was found in...........Quorn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Potty

Walked past that spot yesterday no lamb there then!

[Rhona]

How do you know it's those animals you are buying?

There's a lovely little story about a bloke who runs a pub who has a few chickens in the garden and sells eggs at the bar. Boxes and boxes of them a week he sells. With just a few chickens in in the garden.

I am perhaps far too cynical. :-/

Among other relevant accolades, they've previously won the Best On-farm Butchery Award (FARMA awards) and to be honest, I'm reluctant to tar decent, small scale producers with the supermarket brush!

[bubblewrap]

In some cases reports say the traces of horse is very small
Not "Shetland Pony" I hope

[Madasafish]

No doubt the FSA will solve the problem of mislabelling by suing the Directors of the Firms involved and jailing them.

That would solve the problem.

I am serious : selling under false pretences = fraud. Fraud = go to jail.

Does not matter whose fault it was: the fact is : consumers were defrauded.

Tesco - the world's third biggest retailer - had no idea of what was in its burgers!


After a few were jailed, the industry would sort itself and its suppliers out pronto.

(But the FSA are proven incompetents:-(

[Thelma Sanders]

If Tesco's suppliers said they were made of beef then the suppliers commited the fraud - not Tescos.
or are you suggesting that Tesco's et al should continually test every item they sell for everything they might or might not contain? Food would cost an awful lot more to pay for all the testing. Supermarkets have to take their suppliers ingredients list as fact - or the whole food retail industry would collapse.

They have to prosecute the slaughter houses or meat processors who knew what they were doing by replacing beef with horse - they are the real villains here - even though as few of us like supermarkets much

[julesapple]

In some cases reports say the traces of horse is very small
Not "Shetland Pony" I hope

Do you mean this poor soul?

[VirginVegGrower]

Ex racehorses that can't be given away are the ones in the food chain IMHO. I've too many friends who rescue them and then can't ride them. I've lost a second cousin to riding one on a country lane. Their retirement is usually not a happy one unless they were winning stock, becoming stud.

[Two_Sheds]

vegetarian's are up in arms after ...

improper use of an apostrophe





I like the village sign though, I'm nicking that

[veggiechicken]

Coincidence or not? The local "family butcher" has gone - his shop is now a Dog grooming place. Can only have happened in the last couple of weeks. Wonder whether he regrets his decision or is relieved?