to be kind of glad they found horse in cheap meat?

[ManyBellyKicks]

I mean I'm not glad they did it, but that its all out now?

And more importantly its gave me a massive kick up the arse because I don't want my kids eating unknown crap. Its not the horse meat thats offensive to me really, more the thought that I was buying 'cheap beef products' and it wasn't beef at all.

Of course I've always known these ready meals and cheap processed stuff isn't the best, I'm not daft, but it was cheap and edible and the kids liked it and it suited my (struggling) pocket. I knew it wouldn't be prime cuts of meat but the realisation that there's stuff not listed on the box is quite disgusting, who knows what the heck is in there.

So in light of this, the last few weeks we have had NO processed meat.

This is quite a turn around in our house.

I'm cooking frech meals with fresh lean beef, lasgane, chillis, bolognases. And instead of things like chicken nuggets or chicken burgers I'm 'splashing out' on chicken breasts and doing my own.

So AIBU to think that this could turn out to be a (slightlyyy) positive thing is it makes people who ate alot of processed, convenience food think about their meals and eat better?

It doesn't matter if people "think about what they are eating" (how patronising is that?) affordability is a big issue for lots of people and the problem here is the food suppliers and manufacturers not the consumers.

I don't know how all this stuff was revealed initially but if it hadn't been none of us - regardless of the quality of meat we though we were eating - would still have been happily enjoying our food!

This scandal just happens to concern mince and processed food that appeals to other people.

I remember another one where condemned meat was washed of its dye and sold on who knows where. The first food scandal I ever heard about was in about 1980 and centred on olive oil in Spain that turned out to be partly industrial mineral oil. People died yet who'd have thought it of olive oil. It's practically a health food, isn't it?

If unscrupulous people see a chance to make money, they take it so I don't think anyone should feel smug.

It has had an impact here. My children qualify for free school meals. After half term I'm going to start packed lunches again. I think that schools and healthcare settings will have been, and continue to be 'easy' targets for unscrupulous criminals processing and selling on shit meat dressed up as beef.

It is more than the fact that it is misleading to label products beef when they contain horse. Some people don't care that they may have eaten horse. That's fine.

The thing I find makes me really angry and a bit scared is the antibiotics that these horses may have been given that are banned in the Uk for the food chain. When I discovered meat labelled British didn't mean it was British meat, ie it could have come from anywhere but was either slaughtered or packaged here, it really bothered me. It's like smoke and mirrors and this latest problem just highlights that there should be absolute transparency so that you KNOW exactly what you're buying.

The thing is - meat SHOULD be expensive if it is comes from animals which have been well cared for and allowed to exhibit natural behaviours
feeling V smug about only buying Duchy of Cornwall free range eggs rather than the hideous battery ones from Saudi even though they are £7.50 for 6 and we only have them on high days and holidays. (I live in the ME)

For me personally and I know my circs are unusual, I DO have to eat meat or fish every day. I need 120g of net protein just to survive. Most veggies, pulses, nuts and grains are off the menu for me as I just can't tolerate them and I've tried protein shakes but they're grim too.

My diet mostly consists of flesh, fats and dairy and an awful lot of supplements. It's dull, tedious and expensive but I'd end up in hospital otherwise.

Luckily I rarely eat those processed things, apart from deli meats like ham, corned beef, salami etc, as the protein count is just too low for it to be worthwhile for me but it's getting more and more expensive just to be able to eat basic meals.. and it seems to me that it's going to get worse. I'm fortunate in that I only have to feed myself, I feel bad for people who have families to feed and we all know how picky children can be.

You are all up in arms over the meat...but last summer it was the veggies poisoning us.

Since I've been taking notice of the food there have been scandals including :
Eggs
Chicken
Sausages
Carrots
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Bean sprouts
Bacon
Corned beef
Chocolate.....

Even the Salem witches were supposedly poisoned by the bread Ffs!

I just don't see a way that we can protect ourselves unless we grow/rear our own and that's just not going to happen large scale. People don't have the land..

And before you all start a out only eating animals you can see in the field outside your house... What will happen to your health when there is local contamination that you will have consumed copious amounts of because the contamination is in the fruit and veg you consume as well as the local meat!

What about Camelford in Cornwall where the water was contaminated with aluminium sulphate and it was kept quiet?

Perhaps the thousands of people poisoned should have drunk Perrier?

That's kind of my point... They shouldn't have to question the water that comes out of their taps.....we shouldn't have to question lure food

But there always have been scandals and there always will be... Just more inventive ways every time

Not that I'm not. Ross about it...I just feel powerless to stop it.

trixy I did not say that your children were vegans if you actually read what I wrote. AS a teacher I get to see plenty of 'allergies' which turn out to be 'don't likes' or a mild intolerance which do not require epi pens. It drives our matron crackers and undermines pupils with real allergies and problems which need to be addressed. I myself avoid wheat as it bloats me and aggravates my endometriosis but I would never say I was allergic to it as I am not. It must be difficult cooking for your family!

I was only offering the almond milk as a suggestion - I did not realise that they are all allergic to nuts - so thanks for telling me to fuck off.

I agree with the poster who said that people should stop feeling that they are 'entitled' to meat. Everyone ignores the cruelty issues but is happy to debate price - the two are intrinsically linked. Crap meat is produced cruelly and probably very unhygenically. This is not middle class patronisation either as I make not assumptions that poorer people eat ready meals all the time -THAT would be patronising.

no assumptions rather than not assumptions.
Apologies.

YANBU and I hope many other people think long and hard about what they are eating

I know that lots of people run on tight household budgets, and my feeling is it is better to eat less meat, and buy what you do from a butcher, farmshop or online farm producer who can tell you exactly where the meat is from and often how it has been reared. As a farmer, I'd rather people eat less, eat better, eat British than buy 'value' meals from the supermarket.

You're just supporting the major retailers in delivering massive profit to shareholders - they don't give a god damn about you or your health - buying this rubbish. A good butcher can tell you how to cook cheaper cuts of meat to make really good, nutritious meals - get a slow cooker and just chuck in meal, veg and a stock cube or whatever else seasoning you fancy. You'll have a fab stew waiting when you get home from work

I also hope it makes people take a look at the appalling conditions in which horses are live transported on the continent. Around 65,000 are dealt with like this every year and the abuse and cruelty is dreadful

World Horse Welfare has details on their website

I like the Thai and asian way of cooking. Lots of veggies in a spicy soupy base with little bits of meat.

Fills you up quickly because of the full flavours and provides a balanced meal.

And to the posters who say their children have to eat slabs of meat/chicken nuggets/ sausages everyday because they are allergic to veggies and legumes. Sorry, I don't believe it.

I think meat should be expensive. And if you are poor, eat veggies and very little meat. It won't be detrimental to your health, quite the contrary.

I agree with your sentiments Flatbread.

Flatbread

What about the fake cheese on top of your pizza? I think jimmy Doherty did a programme about it...

Sorry it was the food factory

Flatbread. Are you really suggesting only the rich eat meat??????

I haven't heard about horse being sold in butchers and 'farm shops'.

No butcher could fail to tell the difference between horse and beef.

I don't buy ready meals, but I do make chillis etc from mince meat. Concerned this may be contaminated too?! It's not that I would object to horse per say, but if I am buying british beef you want it to be beef from Britain! I hope this boosts the use of local butchers. I for one will certainly be visiting mine. There are 2 halal ones and a more farm shop one near me.

Bloody hell don't use halal meat! It is slaughtered in the most appalling cruel way. Please, please don't buy it. Or at the very least get your research done and see what compassion in world farming and vets have to say about it. If you can stomach meat from animals killed so cruelly then....

It's naive to think that all non halal butchers kill their animals humanely?! Shocking them in the anus! Not nice. No butcher leds their animals through a field of daisies and soothes them off to sleep. All animals know and smell death and fear. I will certainly do my research before buying.

I had to laugh today at the supermarket everyone seemed to be avoiding the meat products and there was a massive queue at the fish counter!!!

DC and I eat a lot of fresh fish anyway (just wish it wouldnt stink up the kitchen!). Only meat we eat are chicken,(fresh), frankfurters, and bacon.