Hi Dan, You guys feed your cats? Ours goes out each day and has to hunt for his food! (only kidding)
My friend told me no one in the US could come close to the cost of eggs from China, and bear in mind the are shipped airfreight! The jet engine is the real culprit!!! The UK is in the EU these days and food is regulated. Of course there is lots of cheap crap around, but as a family we buy from local suppliers. In our village we have a butcher who sources meat locally, plus vegetables and dairy products. We have milk delivered fresh daily to the doorstep ready for when we wake up (that's just a UK thing). In supermarkets the country of origin of all food products must be shown. We have a monthly farmers market in our village where we can buy fresh products direct from the producer, and there are lots of farms shops around. Most towns have daily markets. All supermarkets stock 'Fair Trade' products, sourced from developing countries where the farmer gets a fair price for the goods. There are Fair Trade clothing products now too, still made in India etc. but the workers get a good deal and no child labour is involved. All supermarkets stock organically grown fresh vegetables, meat etc. too, but these are priced higher than the regular stuff. Generally Europe has rejected GM crops, unlike you guys. Mostly this is because of a public mistrust of the science, but I'm happy not to have GM as it seems to be really about increasing the profits of big business. I believe that new out of town shopping malls are unlikely to be developed in Europe, as it is recognised that this is the quickest way to destroy a city centre and small shops. So the town centres retain their traditional charm, we shop on foot and have to walk from one to another through the fresh air! That takes a little longer than a mall, and you often get wet, but it retains a community. All of this is down to the policies of the EU in subsidising agriculture within Europe, plus public pressure. We are not the 'land of the free', but I suspect we eat better! Of course there are health problems occasionally - Mad Cow disease was a local problem, with around 160 dead so far. I understand this was due to the use of animal by-products being included in cattle food. The US didn't do this as soya bean meal was cheap, not because of any regulation. Mike On 31/12/08 03:06, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Mike, > That's just scary. Basically we don't know where our food is coming from or > what's actually in it. > > My parents and several other preople I know lost cats to cat food from China > with toxic chemicals in it. > > The FDA is understaffed and can't possibly keep up and police all of the > imported food being brought into the US. Welcome to a global experiment in > food (we're it). > > Does the UK have an y better protections in place than the US? > > Dan Hall > N3968H > > > ---- Mike Willis <[email protected]> wrote: >> It¹s not just stores - a friend of mine owns the franchises for a popular >> diner chain in some of the Eastern US states and sources all of his eggs >> from China. >> >> Mike >> >> >> On 30/12/08 18:39, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> >>> Hi Ed, >>> Excellent question. >>> >>> I've been paying more attention lately and it seems to have become difficult >>> to find items made in the USA. I wonder how many people even look to see >>> where things are made before or after purchase. >>> >>> Based on what little I've seen Sears seems to do a little better than some >>> however; that's really not a definitive answer to the question you asked. >>> >>> I'd be very interested to hear if anyone knows of retailers that make a >>> special effort to carry US made items, as opposedc to the lowest cost items. >>> It is probably a small subset to begin with, and in the current economy that >>> subset is probably also shrinking. >>> >>> I assume that the retailers will follow consumer buying patterns and adjust >>> accordingly, so ultimately the US consumer is responsible. >>> >>> BTW - an for an interesting and eye opening read, try the book; >>> "The History of Money" by Jack Weatherford >>> >>> http://www.amazon.com/History-Money-Jack-Weatherford/dp/0609801724 >>> >>> I found it to be a relatively easy read, and quite good. >>> >>> Next up; "The Creature From Jekyll Iskand", by Edward Griffin. Although >>> somehwhat difficult to find, this ntakes a good close look at our Federal >>> Reserve (it's not what we think). >>> >>> Best regards, >>> Dan Hall >>> N3968H >>> >>> ---- Ed Burkhead <[email protected] <mailto:edburkhead%40comcast.net> > >>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I haven't paid all that much attention to Wal-Mart. My memory seems to >>>> tell >>>>> me that 15+ years ago, their policy was to stock American made goods >>>>> whenever they could get them. I vaguely recall that "buy American" was >>>>> one >>>>> of their selling points. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Certainly, now, foreign merchandise dominates at Wal-Mart and that is a >>>>> problem for me. I'd much rather buy American if I possibly can. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> What chain stores do try to have American made goods? Is there anyone now >>>>> who does that? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Ed >>>>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> [email protected] >> www.ercoupe.co.uk >> >> Alon A2 Aircoupe >> A-188 >> G-HARY >> -- >> >> > ________________ Alon A2 A-188 G-HARY www.ercoupe.co.uk
