UK firm to stop using British pork due to Brexit

[LadyWithLapdog]

www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/24/uk-firm-to-stop-using-british-pork-after-post-brexit-border-problems-helen-browning

It’s not the sunny uplands people were promised.

I had no idea about this. Brexit entirely aside, if this is a widespread practice then isn't there a significant environmental concern here?

Significant environmental concern due to air-miles or road-miles. I wonder just how widespread the practice is. Also how little we value animals that their meat is so cheap. I know this is not the focus of this thread and that this farm is presumably better than others.

I'm so glad I live in an area where I have a choice of multiple farm shops which sell their own produce. In addition we buy direct from farmers and small holders when it is advertised on local Facebook pages. We have never been disappointed with the produce and it is good quality produce at good prices.

Very interesting interview with him on R4 Farming Today. He explained why manufacturing was done in Germany, well worth a listen

I might have a listen, this thread has piqued my interest!

I am a bit ??? that because of my posts I'm probably the director of the company Erm yep I am, you got me. I've been running a successful company in the UK selling food including sausages and using British pork.

Despite supporting UK farmers I really have it in for the workers in UK sausage factories and have personally gleefully contributed to the well known decimation of the previously thriving sausage making factories in the UK.

Further. I take active pleasure in getting sausages made in Germany, and selling them to the British public, because everyone knows German sausages are just different. Bamboozling the British public into eating sausages which have Germanic ways about them. Hehehe.

As a food manufacturer who hates UK sausage factories. Of course I didn't work with my local community to open a sausage factory. It had nothing to do with my areas of expertise, strategy, bottom line, specific requirements or existing skill base. Nope. Not at all.

I think that covers it off. Well done on the unmasking poirot!

'Brexit entirely aside, if this is a widespread practice then isn't there a significant environmental concern here?'

Food supply chains, as well as for other things, are complex and sometimes odd. When making some cars they get shipped back and forth multiple times with different bits being done in different countries

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/27/brexit-uk-cheese-firm-boss-in-despair-over-ministers-export-advice Today it’s about the cheese.

I've been buying HB products for years and have to say it didnt sit well that the meat was shipped out to Germany to be prepared. I dont want to buy non British meat so the whole concept of HB has been defeated.

We also go to her pub (we call it the piggy pub) and pass the farm but have never actually seen the pigs yet

I bought them but found them very expensive for what they were. We get (fairly) local free range now. I assume they are processed into sausages nearby but I'll check!

If you are buying expensive meat it is often for ethical reasons and not just about the product quality iyswim.

@LadyWithLapdog

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/27/brexit-uk-cheese-firm-boss-in-despair-over-ministers-export-advice Today it’s about the cheese.

What I don’t understand is if it’s a lot of paperwork to export to the EU then surely it’s a lot of paperwork for the EU to export to U.K.? Won’t this mean there will be say less french cheese in the U.K. so more people buying British cheese. From an environmental perspective surely this is much better?

You would think so.

I'm looking for a feta style cheese if anyone can help.

With manufacturers here that had a proportion of their goods going to the EU, their businesses are in real trouble.

The cheese maker in the article has been told in a meeting with the government to look to exporting to Canada and USA. For those concerned about food miles on the thread I'm not sure that's a better option.

I also like having a range of foods from Europe in the shops. The idea it will be better to go back to the 70s (I remember them) when the opportunities for enjoying new foods and flavours from elsewhere is not a reason for celebration to me.

People on the continent also enjoy our produce, which was good in terms of building our businesses.

Those who see this as a win for the UK baffle me.

The cheese guy was going to build a warehouse meaning jobs. With his sales reduced that's off the table.

The thing I find really interesting is the lack of empathy for the successful UK businesses who are struggling due to Brexit. I don't get it.

Fine by me. What are the food miles on pork shipped UK to Germany, turned into sausages and then shipped back? How do they justify that in the first place?

As I only buy British pork, that’s off my purchase list.

Mint Julia someone posted an interview upthread where they discussed it. So listening to that should give your answer.

I've not listened so would be interested in your views on what they say.

NiceGerbil I don't see any empathy for the pigs either! They are the real victims.

@Corcory

Nicegerbil, the point about the shellfish trade is that the EU have decided to declare UK waters as unclean! Which of course it isn't and hasn't suddenly become so overnight which was not clear in the negotiations. They are perfectly fine with any seafood caught in our waters and landed in an EU country but landed here no! They are taking Norwegian shell fish, which isn't in the EU so what are they doing discriminating against the UK? I think, when things are back to normal in France and the other heavy shell fish eating countries and the restaurants all open up they will find a way to get UK product.

Corcory British shellfish waters are consistently categorised as B & C which requires depuration. We have hardly any A class waters, & the government have failed to invest in improvements & enforcement of the water & farming sectors which could address that. Re these sausages - they look like a specialist wurst style hot dog, so hardly surprising they are sent to Germany for processing. And the PP who was happy to eat Danish bacon - have you seen pork factories in Denmark?!

@Mintjulia

Fine by me. What are the food miles on pork shipped UK to Germany, turned into sausages and then shipped back? How do they justify that in the first place?

Same way as sending fresh eggs on a 2 week holiday did.

There have been tax breaks and other incentives for schlepping food around EU countries since the EU started.

It’s not the sunny uplands people were promised.

WTF difference will this make to anything?

Never heard of this brand, or seen them in the shops. If this is the best Brexit scare story The Grauniad can come up with I will sleep easy in my bed.

I don’t eat meat or dairy so it doesn’t affect me directly, but that’s not a reason not to care what happens to the environment (air-miles) or the industry (taxes going up to support higher unemployment; ok I know this is over-simplified).

It’s not Brexit scare stories. Look outside your own interests and the dogma of Brexit-pub-flag.

Maybe non story rather than scare story.