mumsnetters supermarket comments

[Fifichef]

I would like to start a campaign that would force supermarkets to be truthful about the fresh food they sell. Do you think it would be a good idea for Mumsnet to have somewhere where we could post our comments on the 'naughties' that we discover? Mumsnet seems to get successfully involved in getting noticed in many political issues so perhaps we could get together to improve food standards.

Excellent post Chil.

op you have deviated from your "naughties" list of supermarket and campaign for improving food standards,and it really isnt on to dismiss what you no likey as "silly" comments.frankly you have been woollier than dolly the sheep,but it generated a good discussion

have to take issue with your sweeping generalisation "I know that a lot of mums are on really tight budgets and have to take care in what they buy but that doesn't mean that they have to get rubbish. It is a pity that they don't seem that concerned about feeding their kids decent food.

how dare you presume because some mums dont share your ire that they feed their kids rotten food,that isnt decent.for all the sneering that went on supermarket some supermarket veg would constitute a good dinnerhicken,as would loch wherever salmon. just because it offends your consumer sensibilities doesn't mean it is bad food. meat from your undisclosed source if cooked served with veg is a balanced diet

and like it or not the vast majority of us shop at supermaret and buy loch whatsit fish.we all largely try do the right thing

and market economics makes price a major determinant in choice

I think you'll find that supermarkets fine suppliers whatever they do! If you go and complain about a product to any supermarket, they charge the supplier. The supplier effectively pays for the customer services of the supermarkets. We're not talking £2 either. Waitrose and Co-op charge the supplier £40 incl VAT per complaint...even a complaint like " I didn't like the taste"!!!!
Which is an opinion, not a complaint.
We only have ourselves to blame for suppliers making claims that we feel are bogus, because we don't actually pay the proper price for food. If you want lovely, properly managed delicious food, then the prices at farmers' markets and small shops are about right; but we have been conditioned to think that they're expensive.

farmer market prices are unattainable to most consumers.doing a price comparable and seeing supermarket prices vs farmer market.supermarket clearly cheaper by country mile.i dont think most people would or could shop at farmer market prices. street market stalls are cheaper the farmer market

are you seriously suggesting prices be adjusted up to farmer market prices,and the consumer just take that price hike?that just is not going to happen

what does pay proper price mean?i pay the price that supermarket sells at.it is a price acceptable to supermarket and customer.

certainly individuals can and do chose to shop at farmer market,up to them.but opining we should all do it is cloud cuckoo land

Supermarkets sell food at low prices as they have cut payments to suppliers to the bare minimum. These supports have to cut their costs to the bone in order to make a living. A chicken farmer will get 2 pence profit per bird if he is lucky. They sell milk at a loss. These prices aren't realistic, And lead to poor quality food and crap animal welfare. It's all about price wars. They compete to sell cheaper and cheaper food to encourage consumers to buy, at the expense of quality and welfare. Whilst making a profit. And to do this the producer suffers, and we end up buying inferior goods. The supermarkets use packaging tricks and small print information to encourage us to buy this stuff.

no conspiracy theories.supermarket doesn't trick me.they met my pricing criteria.i purchase.

It's not a conspiracy theory. It's fact. I personally know several farmers who sell to supermarkets and one or two who refuse to. For me it's not just about the price, (and I'm just as piss poor as the next woman) I like to know what I'm eating and where it's come from. I'd rather eat less of something than compromise.