Is food too cheap?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....lobal-food-giant.html

At a time in Britain when food parcels are being distributed, children are allegedly going to school hungry, and shoppers are complaining about the increase in their weekly food bill, here we have chief at Unilever saying "that Food is too Cheap"

I agree that far too much food is being wasted, but surely that is all down to bad kitchen practices and not because it is too cheap.

The housewives of yesteryear faced with the ordeals of food rationing, made sure none was wasted, all scraps were saved and made into soups or stews.

Footnote:

Ladies please don't jump on me for singling out women, when I used the word 'Housewives' because that was the correct terminology in 'days of yore', and we all know that the 'Chapesses' take their turn in the kitchen nowadays. :0)

[mccfluff]

i want it at the time but i usually end up buying too much so it gets wasted

[Zacs-Master]

Shopping on line is a good way to not be tempted by supermarket offers.

[albaqwerty]

There's an advert running on STV occasionally, if I can find it, I'll post a link.

The ad says, write a list of what food to buy and that way you'll save wastage.

Personally, I find the ad patronising.

[mccfluff]

it does work though alba, as long as i keep away from supermarkets that is....

[seadogg]

Our food used to be cheap when most of the world's people couldn't afford meat and dairy and even wheat based foods. Now we are increasingly having to compete on the world's markets for our basic foodstuffs and prices are on an upward curve globally.
Agree about "domestic science" taught in schools but the older generation will remember it was for girls only for a long time.
One problem today is that "proper cooking" can be costly on gas and electricity and we never bake our bread except when the oven has been hot for another job.

[ummmm]

I don't remember being taught to cook. I know my nan and mum cooked each day but I don't remember watching them. I always had to peel the spuds...then I was off out and back for when it's ready.

I think people who can't/don't know how to cook, don't want to cook.

[hc4361]

albaquerty, salmon IS cheap, if you buy the farmed salmon from the supermarkets.

[mccfluff]

its not hard to learn how to cook, just to do some basics

[albaqwerty]

yes hc, but it doesn't taste like salmon.

Cheap is relative to one's income though surely?

Fluffpot, there are some things in supermarkets which leap into my trolley all by themselves :-D

[anotheoldgit]

friedgreentomato

/// Don't worry AOG - I am sure Doc will thank you for putting me in my place again. ///

Give me a clue.

[hc4361]

I must admit that I refuse to eat farmed salmon.

[ummmm]

Some farmed salmon is ok now. Much improved from years back.

[albaqwerty]

(apologies AOG)

hc, when Mr A used to go fishing regularly, we were very lucky with fresh salmon, his epithets on occasion when a fish farm had had a breakout turned the air blue.

[hc4361]

All the farmed salmon I see for sale is very fatty and flacid. Where do you buy it from, ummmm?

[sherrardk]

I plan all my meals before I go shopping and I always take a list, I would be doomed without it. I waste very little food.

[237SJ]

Farmed salmon is going to be fatty by it`s nature because the salmon haven`t been swimming for hundreds of miles to make it lean and muscly. They put a dye in it`s food to make it pink too. Plus they wash it in chemicles to rid it of sea lice which there wouldn`t be in flowing water. People want cheap salmon though and wild salmon costs a fortune.

[Smowball]

My mum never taught me to cook anything! I did Home economics at school and then just taught myself along the way.

[starone]

I don't waste anything. Peelings and bones go in the appropriate recycling box. I was brought up in a time when if there was anything left over (not very likely) it would be served up the next day in a different form (stew or fry-up)' I have seen a young neighbour, much to my distress, throw large parts of chicken away, she would only use the breast part. I once asked why she didn't buy chicken breasts and she said it was cheaper to do what she did and buy a whole chicken. I couldn't believe that sort of reasoning. And when I had an allotment (few years ago now) I offered vegetables to a friend who said his wife wouldn't know what to do with them - she bought them ready prepared and frozen. Sometimes I find it amazing how much food is wasted.

[mazie]

I find it amazing that people elect to eat frozen vegetables and turn away freshly harvested stuff Starbuck!

[hc4361]

It's true, though, Starbuckone. It is cheaper to buy a whole chicken than chicken fillets; it is cheaper to buy a bag of four peppers than 2 loose ones.