To say that every one of us needs to watch last night’s Dispatches on Ch4.

[NellyJames]

Just finished watching this. I knew it was bad but not this grim. Eye opening even for me. I knew about the meat but not the fruit and veg. And apparently the trade deal will only benefit the UK economy by less than 1%!
mobile.twitter.com/C4Dispatches/status/1315651199631319045?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

This affects us all. Even if you’re not a meat eater, the pesticides used on the whole foods and fruit and veg was shocking.

I know, it was shocking! Glad I went veggie earlier this year.

I didn't realise how low US food standards were, both in terms of animal welfare and also for human health. And it will be forced on us if we do a trade deal

No way are we cutting our standards to their level. There would be a total out cry, also the EU and loads of others who have high standards like us wouldn't want to trade with us. The big thing for me is, I'm certainly never going to the US again and eating their food!
P.S. I'm a conservative voting Brexiteer.

The problem is the US have clearly stated that they want free access to all our markets otherwise no trade deal.
And yes, I’m not sure I’m keen on ever eating in the US again!

I think the antibiotics thing is seriously worrying too.

Clearly one can avoid US meat if it's labelled. But what's the betting it's repackaged here? or mislabelled in markets? or simply turned into pies etc.

@Doubletrouble99

No way are we cutting our standards to their level. There would be a total out cry, also the EU and loads of others who have high standards like us wouldn't want to trade with us. The big thing for me is, I'm certainly never going to the US again and eating their food! P.S. I'm a conservative voting Brexiteer.

There's already an out cry. And MPs have rejected any and all attempts to legislate for decent food standards in the UK in the name of Brexit.

I'm struggling a little to work out what bit you aren't getting ?

The USA usually insist that their goods aren't labelled with country of origin as part of their trade deal negotiations. They say it is anti-competition, and if we are going to trade on the Brexiteers beloved WTO in the coming year, anything anti-competitive is against the WTO rules and we could successfully be sued by anyone from the US to China. So much for taking back control...just more rules imposed on us from different places.

@crosstalk

Clearly one can avoid US meat if it's labelled. But what's the betting it's repackaged here? or mislabelled in markets? or simply turned into pies etc.

I haven’t read the thread yet but just to let you know USA are saying part of the deal before they agree would have to be that packaging would be anonymous as in no country of origin. As it stands goes against how uk currently package fresh food which is why USA are trying to impose this rule as they themselves apparently do not.

Someone who knows better than me may have more information though.

If this is the case, surely the answer is to only buy meat that does state the country of origin? Or stop eating it altogether, which would be my preferred option.

@VinylDetective

If this is the case, surely the answer is to only buy meat that does state the country of origin? Or stop eating it altogether, which would be my preferred option.

I think the point is a trade deal with the US would require the UK to insist that no country of origin is shown - as it would be anti competitive.

Which is one reason why the EU won't anything out of the UK into their food chains if that happens.

Still, taking back control, eh ?

@VinylDetective, I agree and that’s fine when I’m shopping. I’d still worry about eating out and the odd take alway. Very difficult for everyone to be able to ask and check each time. At the minute we don’t need to as we know our food must be up to certain standards. I’m very worried about it going forward.

Will of the people, innit?
This is one of the things that was dismissed as Project Fear in 2016 and yet here we are...

Doubletrouble - don't you read/listen to the news? Moves to protect food standards were voted down yesterday. Your Brexiteer magical thinking isn't going to change this reality.

I find this really worrying. As a pp said, all attempts to protect food standards after Brexit have been rejected by the government and a deal with the US will mean no info on country of origin. Personally I will do my best to buy meat from local butcher as I do now and won’t buy any processed meat, but this won’t be an option for everyone. Plus my kids have school meals, we sometimes have takeaways or eat out - we won’t have any control over what’s in those meals.
I’m really not sure what the answer is but I guess this is what people voted for....

Even though I've known about the low food standards in the US for a long time, I found the programme shocking. And disgusted to hear about lobbying for plain packaging. But what can we do?? Looked for a petition or campaign online but couldn't see anything. 'Democracy' in this country stinks

I can't watch it.

I've been veggie for over 30 years. I can't believe we're going to risk reducing our animal Welfare standards so far as we'd allow the import of their food.

I thought it had been voted against in parliament the other day?!

As soon as we open the door to cheap imports our own farmers are done for.

They will go under or have to drop to using the same standards in the US.

It really is as simple as that.

You mean a deal done by a Prime Minister who was a US citizen until a few years ago?

InTheFamilyTree petitions were effective when we had hung parliaments/ tiny majorities. With an 80+ majority, the government can and will just ignore them. I think people got used after 2010 to campaigning on single issues to change policies, but we are in a very different world now.

Ah, but all that delicious, nutritious sovereignty...

I don’t eat imported meat where I can avoid it. I’m particular with asking the butchers and I’ll eat vegetarian where I have to. There are instances where there is no alternative so it’s a tricky balance.

Just as well I like lentils.

I've been aware of the issues with meat production for a long time but in the US even going vegetarian / vegan doesn't help unless you can afford to shop in Whole Foods or similar.

My family in America are lucky, they buy their meat direct from the local ranchers half a cow at a time or something and frozen and they can afford to eat organic veg and fruit. They also eat mostly GF to avoid the GMO wheat.

I find it terrifying that it could end up here when the UK has worked so hard to raise standards.

I would not buy meat of an unknown origin. Ever.

The brexiteers wanted this and voted for this, so here we are.

I've recorded it to watch.

I watched something on TV a while ago about food standards in the US, mainly about the chlorinated chicken, absolutely horrifying.

When I bought this up with a couple of people some time ago I was told it was 'project fear' and nonsense.

I don't eat meat but if I did it would have turned me completely off ever putting a piece of meat in my mouth again.