[SPLIT TOPIC]Dispatches:Organic food

After watching 'Dispatches' tonight, I will never buy supermarket meat again.  We've been eating less and less as it is b/c we buy it all at a farmer's market and it's dearer.  But man, what's gonna happen when that bird flu goes global in the avian population?  And then goes into swine flu?  Scary stuff!

After watching 'Dispatches' tonight, I will never buy supermarket meat again.  We've been eating less and less as it is b/c we buy it all at a farmer's market and it's dearer.  But man, what's gonna happen when that bird flu goes global in the avian population?  And then goes into swine flu?  Scary stuff!

Saw That too!! eeww!!  now my question is  what CAN we eat?  Red meat too fatty..  Fish.. don't have more than 1-2 times a week..  Tofu  and soy bad if you want to have kids..  I am seriously at a  loss..

oh....my....gosh.  i was freaking out about that-it made me SO SAD. 

I buy my meat at costco and i'm starting to rethink it all...

it may be butchers and farmers markets for me now...that really really upset me.

oh....my....gosh.  i was freaking out about that-it made me SO SAD. 

I buy my meat at costco and i'm starting to rethink it all...

it may be butchers and farmers markets for me now...that really really upset me.

The poor chicken who couldn't walk!  I'll never forget that image.

We stopped buying meat from supermarkets entirely and made it a point to visit all the farms whose meat we buy.  We'll be seeing one this weekend in fact.  This farmer, in the Borders, raises British rare breed pigs - all free range, all organically fed.  You can taste the difference in his products!  Not as much fat, grease or salt.  Two of his sons butcher the meat on site, and his daughters package it on site as well.  His grandkids also help on the farm.  So far this summer we've been to two dairy farms, one Angus beef cattle farm, and three chicken farms.  All free range animals who are organically fed.

It's more expensive - especially the chicken, so we do eat more veg based dishes.   Also, the meat we buy goes a lot further in dishes b/c it's not so fatty and has a lot more flavour.  It's worth it to support local farmers who have a care for the animals and land. 

Our local Bethany shop also has a farm of free range, organically fed laying hens.  We get all our eggs from them.  Makes a difference in the quality of my baking. 

If you're going to start buying free-range, organic chicken, you'll find that drumstricks and thighs are cheapest.  But they do have far better quality meat than supermarket drumstick and thighs. 

Support British free-range and organic farmers! 

i do! i'm a big fan of free range and organic....and i think i'm going to get even more so.

i've definately bought a chicken here with the haukrot (or whatever those brown spots on the back of the legs was).  it made me to sad to think i'd eated a lame chicken.

no more....seriously...no more. 

Oh...that show was horrible, but I am glad I watched it! The bad thing is, I have a freezer full of meat...including a whole chicken (haven't checked for the brown spots yet!) I haven't taken anything out for dinner yet as I have mostly chicken and the thought of all that chicken fat is sickening! I do have boneless/skinless breasts...guess that will be the best. I don't have enough money to throw everything out...so will somehow bring myself to eat it all and then make a decision about commercially raised meat and poultry.

When I lived in a rural part of northern Maine we bought a whole pig several times. I have never been one for bacon or sausage, but this guy's pork was recommended by the local medical center for heart disease patients. When frying a pound of bulk sausage, I could barely get 1/2 tsp. of fat out of the pan afterwards. It was very lean and fed special organic foods. I had a huge freezer then, so could buy locally raised beef also. We don't eat much red meat now, and hardly ever pork (no more than a few times a year) so will have to look into free range chickens etc. We do eat seafood a few times a week also.

One of my sons has been vegetarian for several years...he was vegan for almost two. When I was back in high school I ate vegetarian for a few years. When my oldest kids were smaller we did the whole organic/ co-op thingy...and the thought keeps coming into my mind that maybe I am in worse health now not just because I am 15 years older, but because I am eating such low quality foods. I just don't have the income (sooooo sad that I am too poor to eat healthily!) to buy more expensive organic foods. I eat mostly unprocessed foods...lots of veggies etc...but that show really brought home the point that there is a lot I could be doing better!

Now, if I can just muster the mental energy! I've grown so apathetic over the past few years.

Oh...that show was horrible, but I am glad I watched it! The bad thing is, I have a freezer full of meat...including a whole chicken (haven't checked for the brown spots yet!) I haven't taken anything out for dinner yet as I have mostly chicken and the thought of all that chicken fat is sickening! I do have boneless/skinless breasts...guess that will be the best. I don't have enough money to throw everything out...so will somehow bring myself to eat it all and then make a decision about commercially raised meat and poultry.
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Aw, don't waste that food!  That makes those poor animals lives even sadder!  I'd take the skin off everything that has it, though.  Just get through it and move on. 

Chicken bones also make a lovely stock that you can freeze.

Don't worry...I'm too frugal to waste it. But, seems like something has clicked and I won't be able to ignore my feelings and go back to ''normal.''

Good lord, what DID they show on that documentary last night? Inquiring minds want to know!

Good lord, what DID they show on that documentary last night? Inquiring minds want to know!

The sad life of factory-farmed livestock, Hopster.  It was shocking.  Next week - factor farmed dairy cows and ducks.  Buy local!  Buy organic, free range!  Visit the farms where your food is produced!

I most liked the French chef on the show last night.  Especially when they made him taste that ready meal, which he pronouned, 'A crime against humanity.'

And the ready meal king, who said he had liberated women from the kitchen thru ready meals. 

Barf.  All that salt, sugar and chemicals.  Whatever happened to beans on toast w/shredded cheese or a jacket potato as a 'ready-meal'? 

I even buy a lot of my fruits and veggies at Lidl which is quite cheap. Hmmmm...

I buy most of our produce (and eggs) from a local farmer. The last time I went, I spent less than £5 and bought enough veggies to make;

Vegetable soup
Vegetable stew
French onion soup
Potato & leek soup ( I love soup )
onion tart
Cheese & Onion pasties
Stir Fry
Vegetable pot pie
Baked potatoes
hash browns & eggs
vegetable galette with mustard cream
vegetable curry & bombay potatoes

Seriously about 10 dinner and a few lunches for a family of 4. Practically nothing per serving, leaving much more money to spend on the expensive treats at the supermarket.  Plus the added benefit of knowing exactly where my food is coming from and the conditions under which it is grown (or the chickens are kept in the case of eggs).

Rosie

Exactly, Rosie!  We spent about a tenner on veg - all of it organic, from a farmer just outside Edinburgh.  STILL have enough to make wonderful dinners all next week - a week after our shop.  2 kilos of onions for 89p.  2 kilo of chard for £1.  Two giant acorn squashes for £1.50.  A kilo of gem squash for £1.  And pototoes.  A 5kg back for £2.

I've also still got a dozen eggs left.  I love to bake goodies and we make all our own breads so usually use about a dozen eggs/week. 

I also buy pulses by the bag rather than the can and make lots of humus, white bean spread and falafel balls - DH prefers them fried, but I have to admit they're pretty yummy this way.

ok don't laugh

if i buy organic at the store (like waitrose) can i feel better knowing these animals were treated better?

i know at the farmers market i'd be good to go...but what about there?

That's a great question.

Organic certification standards strictly prohibit feeding any rendered animal by-products to any other animals. Also, because of the strict documentation process required in organic production, all animals are traceable throughout their life cycle (from before birth). Records are kept on feeding practices, and all records are inspected by an independent third party as part of the organic certification process. Organic production also emphasizes humane treatment as well as the ability for animals to engage in natural behaviors, including grazing on pasture when seasonally available.

from: http://www.newstarget.com/009188.html

So yes, meat that is certified organic must go through stricter testing than the chickens you saw last night on 'Dispatches'. 

IMO, any demand increase for organic is a good thing b/c it makes farming in this method more profitable and appealing to farmers - so they stay in business, the animals are treated better, and you get better food.  Although some argue that supermarkets bring organic foods in from abroad and so harm the environment w/more fossil fuels burned in shipping. 

It's easy for us to get to our farmer's market, but if you would like to visit one try:
http://www.farmersmarket.co.uk/

Also ask where your local butcher sources his meat.  Many use local farmers who allow their animals free-range, feed them quality foods, and slaughter them on site instead of sending them to a large factory.

good question Amy! I was wondering that myself. I would rather buy from a local farmer/grower myself. Will have to research where I can find one around Newcastle!!! Thanks you guys for the useful info!