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Original poster

Anyone noticed that the quality of food has declined ?

114 replies

FixundFoxi · 03/01/2023 20:53

Just wondered if anyone had noticed that the quality of fruit and veg has declined massively ? Peppers are bruised, wrinkled and soft, carrots bendy and gnarled looking, even potatoes are soft. Most the meat has sell by dates of a day or two.
Don't have a Waitrose locally (up north) so seems to be universal to ordinary supermarkets like Sainsbos and Asda..

OP posts:
Ariela · 04/01/2023 11:11

I buy from a village shop, theirs is delivered by a wholesalers that supply the restaurant trade. Quality that lasts for weeks, about 10% above supermarket price. Bought a huge cauli got 6 meals out of it (it was HUGE). We grow a lot of our own. If you stick to the expensive to buy stuff, it's really worth while: we grow soft fruit, tomatoes, peppers, beans, sprouts, leeks etc.
However what I'm not good at is cutting and freezing stuff quickly enough when you get a glut is always when I'm too busy! I did make masses of chutney this year, probably got enough to last without buying any.

emmathedilemma · 04/01/2023 11:20

My local sainsburys is terrible, I've been using Morrisons and Aldi much more. The broccoli in Sainsburys on Monday was already yellow and only fit for the food waste bin.

Flabbyghasted · 04/01/2023 11:31

I have been using a lot more frozen veg. Iceland have an amazing range.

Obviously you still need some fresh things but I can use frozen veg for most of my meals now and it’s much cheaper and easier.

purplepencilcase · 04/01/2023 11:33

Yes it has for sure. Often very poor quality.

I intend on growing more of my own next year.

passiveaggressivenonsense · 04/01/2023 11:39

Brexit Brexit Brexit, until people wake up to the fact it's been an unmitigated disaster and push to reverse it then things will only get increasingly more dire. Sure Covid has had a impact but I'm in Europe and our fruit and veg are fine.

DottyLittleRainbow · 04/01/2023 11:48

Yeah it’s variable but has been for a while in most supermarkets tbh. We mostly get from the little greengrocer in our town now and it’s much better quality and because I can buy it all by weight rather than bagged up it’s not really much more expensive - they do fruit and veg boxes at very good value. Also a sack of potatoes from a farm shop or grocer will last for ages. Also meat from the butcher, again not really more expensive but hugely better quality, they do a meat pack or bundles.

oreste · 04/01/2023 11:48

There was some brown powdery stuff stuck on Sainsbury's peppers in my delivery this week which would not wash off. Is it possible to cancel an annual delivery pass midway through the year and get a prorated refund? I think that if you have the time, you can go into store and choose decent produce but if you order online, you are sent the shriveled, spoiled stuff that is really fit for the bin. Don't even get me started on the fennel which was grossly overpriced and the length of my thumb.

kirinm · 04/01/2023 12:11

Definitely. Plus everything is much smaller - I did wonder if things were being picked too early or they're just getting away with charging us more for less.

IWannaKnowWhatHappensNext · 04/01/2023 12:12

@AuntieEntity and @nova99 re the chicken, it's called woody chicken, it's been happening for years, and no one knows why... this is an interesting read that tells you a bit more about it - www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/why-does-woody-breast-still-have-the-industry-stumped

FearEtc · 04/01/2023 12:13

watchfulwishes · 03/01/2023 21:15

Yes, the Brexit supply chain issue hasn't helped, plus some crazy weather, plus worker shortages.

This.

StarDolphins · 04/01/2023 12:20

These days, I don’t think there’s such a thing as ‘fresh’ fruit & veg. I’ve noticed a massive decline. Apart from bananas & clementines, all my veg & fruit I buy frozen. Every shop I go to (Aldi/Waitrose/Asda) I was chucking stuff away in a couple of days. Bagged rocket slimy 4 days before sell by etc.

oreste · 04/01/2023 12:51

IWannaKnowWhatHappensNext · 04/01/2023 12:12

@AuntieEntity and @nova99 re the chicken, it's called woody chicken, it's been happening for years, and no one knows why... this is an interesting read that tells you a bit more about it - www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/why-does-woody-breast-still-have-the-industry-stumped

That's gross. But it is true because I had a freshly slaughtered chicken in a 'poor third world' country and it tasted like chicken I just about remember from my childhood. The water content of chicken breasts is also abysmal

IWannaKnowWhatHappensNext · 04/01/2023 12:55

@oreste yeah you're right about the water content too

MrsSkylerWhite · 04/01/2023 13:00

TommyShelby · Yesterday 21:54
It’s waxy, rubbery tasteless cheese I’ve noticed. Almost across the board apart from the most expensive stuff“

Aldi crunchy Westcountry extra mature and vintage cheddars and Red Fox red leicesters are excellent and reasonably priced. Also Lidl’s Barber’s Cruncher. Delicious.

Fifthtimelucky · 04/01/2023 13:22

A couple of years ago I gave up buying meat from supermarkets. I now use a local butcher. It's more expensive, but I don't buy much meat these days so it is worth it for the small amount I do buy. The quality is far far better: there is no water in the chicken, no white stuff coming out of bacon when it's cooked, and the sausages are much less fatty.

I buy fruit and veg from Tesco and am usually pleased with the quality. I go shopping in person so I choose what I want myself. I only go once a week and most stuff lasts the whole week, if not more.

I am still eating the parsnips, carrots, sweet potatoes, cabbage and sprouts that I bought before Christmas, and they are absolutely fine.

lieselotte · 04/01/2023 13:27

Yes I was wondering if there might be a thread about this. I am not sure the lack of use by dates on perishable foods is a good idea. I got some carrots at the weekend and had to throw half of them away - I don't like food waste but you can't eat things that are really badly going off. I routinely drink out of date milk if it still tastes ok and will cook a floppy broccoli but when a carrot is weeping into a bag and has a mouldy end...yuck!

OK I should buy from a market, not a supermarket in a plastic bag, but in the real world...

I think fruit and veg should have display before dates at least, so we don't end up buying stuff that has been hidden at the back for days. You can't always tell something is off until you get it home and open the bag.

I also think that chicken is less well butchered. Is that because all the butchers left during covid and due to Brexit?

lieselotte · 04/01/2023 13:30

passiveaggressivenonsense · 04/01/2023 11:39

Brexit Brexit Brexit, until people wake up to the fact it's been an unmitigated disaster and push to reverse it then things will only get increasingly more dire. Sure Covid has had a impact but I'm in Europe and our fruit and veg are fine.

I'm not sure, I think it has more to do with the supermarkets pushing for ever lower prices. And trying to sell old stock.

My mum used a farm shop to buy our veg for Christmas dinner and it was delicious. An absolute revelation. Now to find a farm shop near me!

hattie43 · 04/01/2023 13:34

Yes I noticed awful fruit in Tesco's and sainsburys over the Christmas break to the point I didn't buy .

Whyareblokesonhere · 04/01/2023 13:43

We shop in Waitrose, have cut back on other things but actually find overall spend less than using the others and I still believe they treat farmers more fairly than the others, our local one went down hill but think they have new manager/s as it's definitely getting better again

Bouncealot · 04/01/2023 13:56

Worked in Waitrose for a couple of years. Fresh fruit and veg would arrive pristine, but unless a couple of experienced staff put it out, the newer staff didn’t really care as not invested in a particular department, and fundamentally just didn’t understand how fresh items bruise. They are rewarded for speed and initial presentation. Profit margins mean they can get away with substantial wastage by giving it away to local charitable organisations, which is a win/win for them. Labour shortages have made it worse.

beAsensible1 · 04/01/2023 13:58

Yep, have stopped buying the majority of my fruit ad veg from the supermarket as its so rubbish.

i just use a decent greengrocer, also this help to limit food waste and the package waste.

Whyareblokesonhere · 04/01/2023 16:53

Bouncealot · 04/01/2023 13:56

Worked in Waitrose for a couple of years. Fresh fruit and veg would arrive pristine, but unless a couple of experienced staff put it out, the newer staff didn’t really care as not invested in a particular department, and fundamentally just didn’t understand how fresh items bruise. They are rewarded for speed and initial presentation. Profit margins mean they can get away with substantial wastage by giving it away to local charitable organisations, which is a win/win for them. Labour shortages have made it worse.

Good profit margins?? None of the supermarkets have that luxury anymore and haven't for some time

Abra1t · 04/01/2023 16:57

bizzywiththefizzy · 03/01/2023 21:15

We shop at Sainsbury's and have definitely found the quality of fruit and veg has gone downhill .
we don't live anywhere near Waitrose anymore , but I never rated them anyway , I used to live down south and found Waitrose awful for fruit and veg . I found their meat good though . I used to like buying their frozen stewing steak . I think it was Hereford beef .
Has anyone else found Waitrose awful for fruit and veg? What is that all about .

I think fruit and veg is not as good as the rest of the Waitrose offering. It’s always ok, but never just not very appealing on the shelf. Just doesn’t look very bright and enticing. We use the market more.

I don’t walk through Waitrose in high summer and feel I must buy something that’s not on the list from fruit and veg because it just looks so good.

DoingALeicester · 04/01/2023 17:23

Yes, Sainsbury's and Aldi. Agree apples are awful and parsnips, carrots, peppers, even cherry tomatoes.

Dontlistitonfacebook · 04/01/2023 17:26

Great quality fruit and veg from our local Asda! Sounds like it depends on the area you are in.