To be upset over chlorinated chicken and considering leaving the uk

[Lovesgood]

I know a lot of people saw this coming. Its really upsetting how the uk is now beginning to bow down to our new masters. Im seriously considering to leave the country as chlorinated chicken will only be the beginning. They will completely ruin our farmers and foodstandards. And once theyve done that, who knows what else the US will demand, only for the UK to just roll over... Im quite sad over this actually. Any suggestions as to where to go? Whats Ireland like?

Just posted here for traffic.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/chlorinated-chicken-british-markets-us-trade-deal-trump-a9548431.html#gsc.tab=0

My beef is entirely with the UK government, especially as there have been assurances as recently as this year that there would be no lowering of standards.

In which case anyone who was foolish enough to believe them (haahaahaa, that Tories ever have any interest in anything other than the very rich, themselves, and increasing that wealth) and vote Tory have only themselves to blame.

MissConduct You're right, both sides can walk away and the UK isn't that big a market for the US. However, that's exactly the problem for the UK which is going to be desperate for trade deals come January so is in no position to start making demands. Our government is putting us in an incredibly weak position and the US government will know that it will be easy to dictate terms or walk away as they choose.

Personally I would much prefer we devoted our attention to getting a close trading agreement with the EU and maintained existing standards but the UK government seems hell bent on destroying relations with its nearest trading partner in favour of turning to the US.

Quite high which is why I haven't voted for them. I and all the millions of others who didn't vote for them will still be stuck with whatever food legislation they introduce though.

The US team will also push for US products to be traded more freely in the UK market

Specialist butcher based in Aberdeen already selling US meat -

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT -
These are beautiful, USDA certified Black Angus Briskets from Harris Ranch, California. All graded and ready to go..Proper grass raised for flavour and grain finished for marbling. Produced to the highest qualities without the use of any artificial ingredients.

www.johndavidsons.com/pitmaster-bbq/brisket-love/usda-brisket-harris-ranch

I worked in a agro chemicals laboratory a few years back,
Chlorinated chicken is the least of your concern, the US use plenty of fertilisers and pesticides on their crops that are currently illegal to use in the UK and EU. Each year in the USA the environmental working group release a list called "The Dirty Dozen" which are fruit and vegetables that carry the highest residues of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
In 2015 the dirty dozen included
Apples
Bell peppers
Celery
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumbers
Grapes
Nectarines
Peaches
Potatoes
Snap peas
Spinich
Strawberries

Now if using UK and EU standard fertilizers and pesticides I wouldnt be too concerned as I know exactly how tightly regulated they are and how many safety hoops they have to jump through. US however dosent have the same regulations regarding what they spray on crops and that really really concerns me as you could in some ways be ingesting anything...

@B1rdbra1n @alltoomuchrightnow

You really think American veg is "safer".

Please see my above post, and bare in mind: the dirty dozen is the top 12 and is by no means exhaustive list, there will be many not on the list that still have questionable levels of residue.
Likewise the list changes annually, so what one year is alright the next way start becoming questionable.

Clavinova that's entirely beside the point. High quality US produced meat exists of course and can be sold over here at the moment as it meets existing food regulations. The issue is the food that can't currently be sold here because it doesn't meet the standards but will be entering the market if regulations change under a new trade agreement.

I seriously hope that the public are not going to be so easily duped by plummeting food standards. American food regulation (I use that term loosely) is left to the whim of the producers and we all know that in America, profit always overrides human and animal welfare considerations. Anyone seen the horrendous conditions in their huge abattoirs? Then there is the issue of the concentration of the power over food production in the hands of a few US multinationals which has serious implications for global food security and the envirionment. You will be able to tell soon enough if you are eating American produce as it looks great but is mostly bland or overly sweet. As other posters have noticed the problem is not just with chicken. High pesticides residues are commonly found in American produce including recognised carcinogens like Dathcal which is banned in the EU. Consumers need to be holding supermarkets to account to uphold food labelling otherwise it will lead to more inequality between those who can afford organic and those forced to eat dangerous food.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLibel_case

You really think American veg is "safer
no, I dont, I will avoid it if I can, buy organic, get onto one of those local farm vege box schemes etc

The issue is the food that can't currently be sold here because it doesn't meet the standards but will be entering the market if regulations change under a new trade agreement.

There is plenty of scope to increase the quota of high quality food we import from the US first.

In 2015 the dirty dozen included
Grapes

We obviously already import raisins and wine produced from Californian grapes.

I won’t buy it and I won’t support restaurants that use it.

They won’t save money on wasted produce.

If this goes ahead more Scots will vote for independence.

Rather be skint and safe than in with this morally corrupt bunch of absolute shysters

SerendipityJane
One of the most interesting things about the McLibel case - for those who do not remember it well - is who their Pro Bono legal adviser was

@SerendipityJanewho??

There's plenty of high quality meat produced in the US. This is what I buy if I can get to one of the markets in my area that carries it:

www.nimanranch.com

And like any business they'll sell to whomever will pay their prices.

I have never heard of anything so crazy. Your choice.

How do you feel about ASF infected pork?

"And like any business they'll sell to whomever will pay their prices."

Are you saying that only the wealthy deserve good quality food? That poor people don't care what they eat?

@Tanith

"And like any business they'll sell to whomever will pay their prices."

Are you saying that only the wealthy deserve good quality food? That poor people don't care what they eat?

Of course not. There was a comment up thread (now deleted) that suggested that American producers would not sell good quality meat to the UK. That's silly. They'll sell where ever there is demand at the prices they have to charge to make money.

The price of food doesn't have anything to do with the income level of the buyer. Lobster will always be more expensive than chicken. It's simple economics, not a social judgement.

I pay about $5 per pound for boneless organic chicken breasts here in the US. How does that compare to UK prices?

There’s a petition on change.org, please sign...

Future UK trade deals must not compromise animal welfare and public health

www.change.org/p/george-eustice-mp-future-trade-deals-must-not-compromise-uk-farm-animal-welfare-and-public-health-standards

@Rummikub a certain young barrister named Keir Starmer

Ah thank you! Interesting.

@Cacacoisfarraige

I can believe I’ve been reported for saying that many of the lauded producers will be selling domestically. They don’t need to export.

It’s the other crap at at the bottom produced in very large volumes - chicken, bacon - beyond battery farming. That stuff is as cheap as chips and more cheaply produced than stuff in the UK

It’s simple economics HQ - not rocket science ! And why it was banned is a joke

You weren't "banned", your comment was removed, most likely because you said "don't be so stupid Clavinova", a clear personal attack.