Hugh's Chicken Run

[simon]

Has anyone been watching this the last 2 nights! I think its been compulsive viewing and am looking forward to tonights final episode!
I can honestly say I will never buy a non free range chicken again, (of course it helps that I never do the shopping)
And on the news tonight it says that battery-farmed chcikens will soon be a thing of the past, so some good has seemed to come from this programme!

 

[Mrs M]

Has anyone been watching this the last 2 nights! I think its been compulsive viewing and am looking forward to tonights final episode!
I can honestly say I will never buy a non free range chicken again, (of course it helps that I never do the shopping)
And on the news tonight it says that battery-farmed chcikens will soon be a thing of the past, so some good has seemed to come from this programme!

I couldn't watch it but I know what goes on and I haven't bought anything other than free range for a couple of years now. I have only ever bought free range eggs. I know it costs more but if you have been watching this programme, you'd be ashamed to buy Asda smart price chicken ever again. Shouldn't pick on Asda, all the supermarkets have their own brand of cheap goods which on many occasions are fine but not all. It's about time a programme like this was done. I think giving them four years to phase it all out is too long too.

 

[FooFighter]

So, on principle, you've stopped eating at any fast food or pub grub restaurant?

 

[tek-monkey]

I thought it was just battery egg farming being phased out? Much as I'd like to say I'd only eat free range, I'd be lying. Cost vs conscience isn't always an easy decision, and like a lot of people I'd happily do it as long as it doesn't affect my lifestyle. When I have to put down the special brew cos my chicken costs too much, its gone too far.

Anyone see that prog about veal last night? Kill it, cook it, eat it or something similar? After watching that, I realised that animals are treated pretty badly. OK, they're treated better here than in the rest of the EU, but still badly. If we were to be fair, we'd let them all loose to frolic happily in the fields. Admittedly they'd then become extinct within a month cos we'd use all the land they occupy to grow crops, but its a nice idea. On the flipside, they taste nice. What can you do really?

 

[Mrs M]

So, on principle, you've stopped eating at any fast food or pub grub restaurant?

I NEVER eat from KFC. NEVER eat at MacDonalds, NEVER at Little Thief. As far as pub grub is concerned it's difficult but as the battery farms are being phased out it will not be. I have and will NEVER eat veal. Personally if I had the will power I would become vegitarian. I enjoy meat too much and would miss bacon. I'm not naive enough to beleive that the world could become vegitarians and don't see a problem with people eating meat providing the animals are treated humanely. If everyone bought free range then it would become cheaper. And Tech monkey I thought you were more of an individual than a sheep. I usually respect what you write, this is the first time I have thought, as Joannie Taylor would say ' Warra load of old shit'!

 

[tek-monkey]

Well, thats your opinion and you're welcome to it!

Seriously though, yes free range food will become cheaper if we all buy it. I'm not in a good position to be the one to fund others though, I don't exactly earn a lot so my food is purchased cheaply not ethicaly. The special brew comment was tongue in cheek, but the fact that I wouldn't eat organic/free range if it affected the rest of my lifestyle is true. Sorry, but thats just the way it is. I hear enough people talk about how terrible it all is then eat a KFC, at least I'm not lying to myself.

We're coming up to a major problem, as we allocate more land for the same amount of animals to be farmed, we either lose crops or reduce the number of animals actually farmed. The human population keeps increasing, and needs more food to sustain it*. Where is this food to come from? I know we have farmland currently left fallow that we can use, yet don't for one reason or another, but we will hit a crunch point. Something has to give, or we need to drasticly change our eating habits. Doesn't help that many regions of the world cannot support themselves, and rely on others for their food.

I don't agree with battery farming, but when it comes down to it if I'm having to pay 20% more for my food then I'm sorry but I'm going with the cheaper option. Having a conscience is a luxury at times, and I doubt my bank or the student loans company will accept smaller payments from me because I want ethicaly farmed goods.


*Actually thats crap, we waste way too much and consume way above what we need. I eat once a day, some days just a sandwich, so can't understand why others seem to need 2 full meals and breakfast.

 

[Mrs M]

*Actually thats crap, we waste way too much and consume way above what we need. I eat once a day, some days just a sandwich, so can't understand why others seem to need 2 full meals and breakfast.

I agree with you here, we waste far too much and take too much for granted. I understand the difficulties about paying the extra 20% on goods as there are six in my house 2 adults and four children and only my hubby 'bringing in the bacon', but we have to make a stand some how and if you beleive in something strongly enough you will do all in your power to help change it.

 

[tek-monkey]

I do agree, I guess I just don't feel as strongly about it. Weird, as I'm an animal lover (have a fair few), but it never really enters my mind when shopping. I may have graduated many moons ago, but still shop like a student. Buy the essentials, and then whatever is on special offer at the end of the aisles that takes my fancy. Being single helps here, rarely cooking helps more. I cook maybe once a week, but when I do I often make a load up and freeze it (or more usually feed my flatmates too). Also, infrequent cooking means more frozen food, which rarely seems to be ethical stuff.

My other problem, and I think this may be a major one for most people, is the perception that organic/free range food is more expensive. OK, it is, but some items really take the ****! Good example, needed some garlic for a chilli the other day. 5 heads of 'value' garlic were about 65p, 2 heads of organic were 68p. I use a lot of garlic, as my taste buds aren't up to much, so its not like I can spot a difference between them. So why pay 60% more? Can't help feeling its an excuse to charge more a lot of the time, I'd love to see profit margin comparisons on the three different types (value/normal/organic). I find myself instinctively looking away from all the food in tesco in the green organic style packaging, as I know it costs more. I have no real idea how much anymore, as I don't really look, but the idea that it does stops me looking.

Just checked, and the battery farming ban does just appear to be about eggs?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7180018.stm

 

[Astro Boy]

We're coming up to a major problem, as we allocate more land for the same amount of animals to be farmed, we either lose crops or reduce the number of animals actually farmed.

what about all the land now being allocated for biofuels? its being hailed as the way to wean us off oil but could also cause serious harm to food supply in certain regions of the world.

but we have to make a stand some how and if you beleive in something strongly enough you will do all in your power to help change it.

YES! attitudes need to be changed! the way we think! we need a revolution so we dont cry over split special brew(!) vs. the environment about us. ie. the very thing that sustains our existence in the first place. we have become too far removed.

 

[Astro Boy]

hughs chicken run - anything that creates awareness is good in this clarts book. especially when it stirs discussions such as this one right here xx

 

[Astro Boy]

42oz steak anyone? for gods sake!

 

[tek-monkey]

what about all the land now being allocated for biofuels? its being hailed as the way to wean us off oil but could also cause serious harm to food supply in certain regions of the world.

Yup, also a major problem. Biofuel is all well and good, but has to come from somewhere. Re-assigning land from food crops to oil crops is not the answer, it just causes more problems.

I remember, while quite young, reading a short sci-fi story where the entire Earths land mass was covered in dwellings, and the sea was merely a breeding ground for some form of kelp from which all our food was derived. Starting to look more plausible!

 

[cookie_monster]

I do agree, I guess I just don't feel as strongly about it. Weird, as I'm an animal lover (have a fair few), but it never really enters my mind when shopping. I may have graduated many moons ago, but still shop like a student. Buy the essentials, and then whatever is on special offer at the end of the aisles that takes my fancy. Being single helps here, rarely cooking helps more. I cook maybe once a week, but when I do I often make a load up and freeze it (or more usually feed my flatmates too). Also, infrequent cooking means more frozen food, which rarely seems to be ethical stuff.

i identify with your sentiments as i do a a very similar thing- the major difference being that i only make vegetarian stuff.

to be honest, im not a veggie, i really wouldnt be a very good one if i was- i love meat! but i hate buying it, and to be honest, cooking it is a ballache. im more than happy to eat meat that other prepare for me, but im just lazy.

i know what you mean about the budget thing, my lack of meat buying started when i was at uni and ive never gone back to it, apart from the odd pack of lamb mince to make lasagne for those that refuse to eat quorn (the veggie version is loads better IMHO). id love to buy more organic fruit and veggies, but when the quality of fare on offer in my morrisons is so poor anyway (and i refuse on principal to go to tesco further down the road), im not preapred to take the chance with my hard earned cash.

as a singleton im also a fan of freezing and probably do a big shop and cook every 5-6 weeks- which the veggie option suits brilliantly when it comes to defrosting and microwaving.

but i did watch hughs efforts with anticipation- i was surprised he did as well as he did considering the prejudices from the town (christ, a canteen that doesnt cook- ruuuuubbbish!) and the stonewalling he received from the supermarkets.

i am of the belief that animals bred for food, are for food, not pets, no emotional attachment- but despite this, we do have a duty to ensure that animal has a decent quality of life and its being isnt exploited for our benefit. i also believe that people ought to be informed about where their food comes from and the processes it goes through before theyre cleaned up, plucked, skinned, deboned and shrink wrapped.

i would be intrigued to see a program of the same ilk about the rearing of lamb- i have to admit that if i will order anything in a restaurant....it tends to be this.

if i ever buy chicken again (the last time was december 2006....and then i had to ask a friend how to cook it!) i will definitely be looking at the label twice to check its free range.


x

ps. no more of my favourite sandwich filling for me anymore either....garlic and herb philly with chicken roll slices.

 

[tek-monkey]

Just realised I put I was single there, I'm not anymore just still live like it! Substitute that with 'don't live with partner', just in case she's reading this

 

[tek-monkey]

to be honest, im not a veggie, i really wouldnt be a very good one if i was- i love meat! but i hate buying it, and to be honest, cooking it is a ballache. im more than happy to eat meat that other prepare for me, but im just lazy.

I generally cook lots at once. For example, about 2 months ago I cooked loads of mince with onions, chillies, garlic etc. then froze a load of small portions. Now when I eat pasta, I just throw one in. Too lazy too cut the onions, de-seed the chillies etc. every time, but like eating meat. Problem solved, and can eat a decent (meaty) meal in 10 mins.

ps. no more of my favourite sandwich filling for me anymore either....garlic and herb philly with chicken roll slices.

And there's the other problem, there is virtually no ethical convenience food.

 

[cookie_monster]

I generally cook lots at once. For example, about 2 months ago I cooked loads of mince with onions, chillies, garlic etc. then froze a load of small portions. Now when I eat pasta, I just throw one in. Too lazy too cut the onions, de-seed the chillies etc. every time, but like eating meat. Problem solved, and can eat a decent (meaty) meal in 10 mins.

i do the same with quorn. i like to eat meat, but i much prefer fish- so i eat that at home (and i try to buy sustainable fish at that, although i am a sucker for tuna- love it with loads of mayo on jackets!)

for me, meat is a special occasion food, like visiting the folks, when i know my mum will do one of my favourites, lamb korma or mega garlicky roast lamb. its absolutely nothing to do with principles, fussiness or morals that i choose not to buy and cook it for myself.

at the end of the day im stuck in my dietary rut, but i eat healthily (most of the time) and i manage not to starve coz ive spent all my money on sweets in one go, so i suppose thats the important bit. everybody has their own routine and needs.....but do i really, really, need to eat a chicken thats been sitting in its own faeces 24hrs a day for 39 days?

the simple answer is no- id rather it had a slightly more 'normal' lifestyle...even if it is still only going to end up in my tummy.


x