‘Food standards are a deal-breaker for consumers’ – Which?

Written by William Kellett

British consumers have sent a clear message about upholding food standards to MPs ahead of a crunch vote that could ensure UK food standards are not compromised by imports.

On Monday (October 12), MPs can support an amendment to the Agriculture Bill that would ensure future food imports comply with UK standards.

This would guarantee the banning of products and processes like chlorine washes and hormone treatments remain off the menu as the government negotiates trade deals with the US and other countries.

Public support for maintaining food standards remains high, as trade talks with the US reach a crucial point.

In the latest Which? survey, 94% of UK consumers said it is important existing standards are maintained, while three-quarters (74%) said it was very important.

Around three-quarters (77%) said they’d be uncomfortable eating chlorinated chicken, while eight in 10 (81%) said they’d be uncomfortable eating beef and consuming milk where cows had been given growth hormones used to increase production.

‘Food standards are a deal-breaker’


Sue Davies, head of consumer protection and food policy at Which?, commented on the findings, saying:

Our research shows food standards are a deal-breaker for consumers in trade deals – and many people are concerned by the government’s failure to guarantee that the ban on products like chlorine-washed and hormone-treated beef will stay in place.

“Consumers have signalled that iron-clad legislation is needed to ensure two decades of progress on food standards is not sacrificed to secure a trade deal – and they now expect their MPs to make it happen.

“The UK has some of the highest food and animal welfare standards in the world, and Which? research has shown British consumers would be uncomfortable consuming food produced to a lower standard such as chlorine-treated chicken and hormone-injected beef.”

Over the next few months, trade talks are set to intensify as the government seeks to make progress on deals before the end of the UK’s transition period with the EU.

The post ‘Food standards are a deal-breaker for consumers’ – Which? appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

Continue reading on the Agriland Website...

 

[Werzle]

Written by William Kellett

British consumers have sent a clear message about upholding food standards to MPs ahead of a crunch vote that could ensure UK food standards are not compromised by imports.

On Monday (October 12), MPs can support an amendment to the Agriculture Bill that would ensure future food imports comply with UK standards.

This would guarantee the banning of products and processes like chlorine washes and hormone treatments remain off the menu as the government negotiates trade deals with the US and other countries.

Public support for maintaining food standards remains high, as trade talks with the US reach a crucial point.

In the latest Which? survey, 94% of UK consumers said it is important existing standards are maintained, while three-quarters (74%) said it was very important.

Around three-quarters (77%) said they’d be uncomfortable eating chlorinated chicken, while eight in 10 (81%) said they’d be uncomfortable eating beef and consuming milk where cows had been given growth hormones used to increase production.

‘Food standards are a deal-breaker’


Sue Davies, head of consumer protection and food policy at Which?, commented on the findings, saying:



“Consumers have signalled that iron-clad legislation is needed to ensure two decades of progress on food standards is not sacrificed to secure a trade deal – and they now expect their MPs to make it happen.

“The UK has some of the highest food and animal welfare standards in the world, and Which? research has shown British consumers would be uncomfortable consuming food produced to a lower standard such as chlorine-treated chicken and hormone-injected beef.”

Over the next few months, trade talks are set to intensify as the government seeks to make progress on deals before the end of the UK’s transition period with the EU.

The post ‘Food standards are a deal-breaker for consumers’ – Which? appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

Continue reading on the Agriland Website...

I thought the government was set to ignore the house of lords amendments on this

 

[Barleycorn]

Whatever message allegedly they have sent they still will buy the cheapest in the supermarket.

 

[Werzle]

Whatever message allegedly they have sent they still will buy the cheapest in the supermarket.

They have been pretty faithfull to uk produce during covid but you can bet the imported stuff will be packaged and advertised to look and sound like its homegrown.
Stick all the lower standard imported stuff in one aisle and see if the general public will eat it for a true test

 

[maen]

My near local large village has currently 38 families receiving food parcels ever week. It is a growth industry.

During the £10 Eat out to Help out government backed scheme pubs were booked up and turning customers away. They had never been busier. (some customers were getting £10 off each course by getting three bills) Once the scheme stopped so did the customers. They only wanted cheap meals.

People want cheap food. In general , they are not particularly concerned how it’s produced, they trust the supermarket to vet the food on their behalf. Put New Zealand legs of lamb next to more expensive UK legs of lamb and watch which people choose. Cheaper means more sales and supermarkets know this.

Thousands of tonnes of chicken meat are already imported from Brazil and Thailand by supermarkets. This is usually used in prepared meals. All produced to UK standards but produced cheaper.

 

[Werzle]

My near local large village has currently 38 families receiving food parcels ever week. It is a growth industry.

During the £10 Eat out to Help out government backed scheme pubs were booked up and turning customers away. They had never been busier. (some customers were getting £10 off each course by getting three bills) Once the scheme stopped so did the customers. They only wanted cheap meals.

People want cheap food. In general , they are not particularly concerned how it’s produced, they trust the supermarket to vet the food on their behalf. Put New Zealand legs of lamb next to more expensive UK legs of lamb and watch which people choose. Cheaper means more sales and supermarkets know this.

Thousands of tonnes of chicken meat are already imported from Brazil and Thailand by supermarkets. This is usually used in prepared meals. All produced to UK standards but produced cheaper.

There isnt much shame anymore in the uk so alot of food bank families dont need help, they just prefer for someone else to pay for food so they can afford drink, smokes and tatts.

During lockdown when many people cooked many more meals for themselves british produced meat flew off the shelves , they treated themselves to what they rightly regarded as a quality product.

New zealand lamb is favoured by many because its grass reared and isnt as greasy as creep fed uk lamb.

Most people would expect a country pub to serve british meat, i would bet money that if a diner loudly asked the landlord "is the beef british" he would say yes even if it wasnt because he knows "british" is a quality assured selling point