Leicester_H Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 (edited) Hi, Like a lot of people, we only eat free range chicken - which we can buy fresh from Sainsbury's, which is GREAT. However, if we're pushed for time, we sometimes buy ready meals (Indian, Chinese, Thai whetever) - but our choice is severely limited as none state the source of the chicken and so we don't buy them. Are any of your prepared meals make from FREE RANGE chicken ? I'll post their reply when it arrives, H Edited April 22, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Im a regular sainsburys shopper and I dont think any of their pre packed meals contain free range chicken - not even their "taste the difference range". Their Taste the difference range does use free range eggs though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 I don't eat convenience meals, but recently took Waitrose up on this as it's the next logical step from their stance on using only free range eggs. They weren't currently looking to provide free range chicken meals. I think that the cost implications put them off. I use locally reared free range chciken and cook batch meals at weekends, which I freeze and use during the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 I use locally reared free range chciken and cook batch meals at weekends, which I freeze and use during the week. Yes - I do this - Bol sauce, chili, curry etc. Its just sometimes, by friday, I feel like something *I* haven't cooked. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 wish I was that organised, but alas its not to be..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I use locally reared free range chciken and cook batch meals at weekends, which I freeze and use during the week. Yes - I do this - Bol sauce, chili, curry etc. Its just sometimes, by friday, I feel like something *I* haven't cooked. H That is like me....Fridays are my day off from cooking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 The only pre-prepared I eat is when M&S do their Dine in for a Tenner offers; I don't buy any meat though. It's nice to have a break every now and then. I pop home from work for lunch, so eat my main meal then. Rosie has hers in the evening, so I have to make sure that I have enough food for both of us for the next couple of days. I don't plan as well as Ginette though. The farmer who I buy my free range meat from sells me meat s"Ooops, word censored!"s and bones for the hound too - I mince up the meat and offal and freeze it. The bones, chickens legs and wings get frozen too, then I just defrost as I need it. Far cheaper and healthier than regular dog food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I tend to cook everything fresh, and only buy ethically reared (free range, outdoor) meat. If I do buy a convenience meal, it's usually the two dine in for £10 offers, but even then I avoid the chicken ones, as they never tend to be 'free range' - if they were, they'd be shouting about it on the packaging. I nearly always find ready meals a disappointment anyway; they're usually bland and tasteless in my opinion. I don't think they're that convenient either - the cooking times often take just as long to throw something fresh and tasty together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 Here is reply --------------- Thank you for your email. It’s great to read your positive comments about our free range chicken. I understand you’d like to know which of our ready meals contains free range chicken as it doesn’t state it on the packaging. We’re always pleased to provide our customers with any information they require, wherever possible. I can confirm all our Taste the Difference ready meals contain free range chicken. I appreciate the time you’ve taken to contact us and I do hope this information is useful to you. Kind regards Daniel Jessop Customer Manager Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I can confirm all our Taste the Difference ready meals contain free range chicken. Well I am shocked! I should check the packaging more carefully I knew they contained FR eggs but am pleased its FR chicken aswell. (not that I eat it anyway) but its nice to know, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 why on earth isn't it on the label then, or is it? I don't have a Sainsbury close enough to me to make it worthwhile shopping there but if it isn't on the label then it should be. Did anyone see the latest RC newsletter asking everyone to mail their MP about chicken labelling? I sent one to mine and he wrote back to say he has written to whoever it was in govt that decides these things (can't recall the name just now) and he said me and DH were among a few constituents who had written to him about the issue! H, are you going to ask them about the labelling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I've just been doing my online shopping from Sainsburys and here's an example of a Taste the difference ready meal label for a chicken recipe Sainsbury's Chicken Tikka With Raita Dip, Taste The Difference 270g Price Promotion Quantity and add to trolley £3.99/unit £14.78/kg Description Chargrilled chicken tikka with a coriander & cumin raita dip TTD story (to go back side face): We double marinade & char-grill our British chicken breast. The flavours from our Indian spices and authentic marinade are complemented by a cooling yogurt raita flavoured with fresh coriander and cumin. Perfect eaten as a starter or light meal. Dietary Information Contains milk Not suitable for peanuts, nut or sesame allergy sufferers due to the methods used in the manufacture of this product. Ingredients Chargrilled Chicken Tikka (78%); Coriander And Cumin Raita Dip (22%).Chargrilled Chicken Tikka contains: Chicken Breast (84%), Low Fat Yogurt (from Cows' Milk), Water, Rapeseed Oil, Cornflour, Garlic Purée, Lemon Juice, Paprika, Tandoori Masala (Paprika, Salt, Coriander, Turmeric, Chilli Powder, Cumin, Cinnamon, Clove, Naural Flavouring: Lemon Oil; Black Pepper, Bay Leaf, Natural Colour: Paprika Extract), Ginger Purée, Salt, Green Chilli Purée, Garam Masala (Coriander, Cumin, Cinnamon, Ginger, Chilli Powder, Black Pepper, Clove, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Bay Leaf), Chilli Powder, Turmeric, Fenugreek.Coriander And Cumin Raita Dip contains: Yogurt (from Cows' Milk) (92%), Coriander (8%), Cumin. Health No artificial colours or flavours Description: Chargrilled chicken tikka pieces Chargrilled chicken tikka with a coriander & cumin raita dip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 why on earth isn't it on the label then, or is it? H, are you going to ask them about the labelling? Yes - I will - I'm not convinced H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Nor would i be Hazel. Am highly suspicious of yet more porkies being told. May I suggest keeping a copy of all correspondence in case you need to forward evidence of porky-telling to Sainso's head office? Pah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 His head will be on the block if he has told a whopper. I can't believe Sainsbury's would miss an opportunity of this magnitude to play the green card l Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 May I suggest keeping a copy of all correspondence in case you need to forward evidence of porky-telling to Sainso's head office? Pah! Yes - I have kept email. I wonder if "Daniel Jessop" is a real person or simply a name they all use ?? I have emailed them back with the recipe that chelsea posted above - will be interested to see what they come back with. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I work for a company that artworks some of Sainsbury's packaging. (Unfortunately we don't do their TTD range) But several other jobs have come in and the ingredients are being changed to state free range chicken/free range egg. I'm sorry but I can't think of any off hand. It may that they do use free range chicken but have yet to update their packaging. A cheaper way would be to add a sticker otherwise a whole range can take months and thousands of pounds to re-do (Re-shot photos, design new packaging, test all ingredients to update nutrtion figures, artwork - ie fit design and tech info onto the box, re-pro, re-print and distribute) but if they have thousands of cartons printed already they may be waiting till it all runs out before updating. They probably would'nt push a large ad campaign until this is all done either. Like being a veggie, I wouldn't trust that it's free range until there is something in writing! Very frustrating in the meantime though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Yes - I have kept email. I wonder if "Daniel Jessop" is a real person or simply a name they all use ?? H I reckon it is a real person. I complain to them regularly (about late deliveries etc and just recently about their cheese & onion crips containing animal rennet) and I do have polite replies back from different people. I have always found however, their customer service to be excellent. If he has told a porky....I reckon the excuse he will use is that he was confused between free range eggs (which is clearly stated on their TTD range labels ) and free range chicken meat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Trading Standards spring to mind..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 If he has told a porky....I reckon the excuse he will use is that he was confused between free range eggs (which is clearly stated on their TTD range labels ) and free range chicken meat He has committed himself in writing............big mistake without being absolutely sure of his facts, if indeed he wasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 well done for following it up H xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I believe him. I spent too many years in the food industry and know how serious a false statement would be. As for it not being on the label, it could be that they have changed over to a free range product but because to update all the packaging to include this would cost a huge amount of time and money its possible they are waiting to phase it in as and when the packaging needs to be updated. Advertising the fact would also cost a lot of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 I emailed back asking for confirmation as I was surprised it wasn't mentioned on packaging. Here is there reply Thank you for your further email. Please accept my apologies that my colleague misinformed you in our previous reply. All our own label fresh ready meals, including Taste the Difference, are made with British chicken which is reared to the Assured Chicken Production Standard as a minimum. This farm assurance standard is designed to make sure that nationally agreed standards of food safety, traceability, chicken diet, health and welfare are maintained throughout the food chain. We’re looking to increase the proportion of free range chicken in our meals, despite the shortage of accredited farms in the UK who could satisfy our customers’ demand. Our sales of higher welfare chicken have risen by more than 20% since last year and our buyers will continue to source more accredited suppliers when they are available. Once a product has been certified as using free range chicken, it’ll be stated clearly on the packaging. We know that animal welfare is a subject which is very important to our customers. If you’d like more information on our sourcing policies, please visit our website at http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/cr . Thank you again for giving me the chance to explain our current position. Kind regards, David Richards, Customer Manager So I'm glad I didn't buy any. Should I follow this further ?? If so, how??? H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 That looks like a standard 'thank you for your concern' response to me Whether you take it further is up to you, they are probably hoping that you'll go away, but you could make an enormous fuss if you wanted; the press are hungry for 'proper news' at the moment if the front pages today are anything to go by! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 That looks like a standard 'thank you for your concern' response to me Whether you take it further is up to you, they are probably hoping that you'll go away, but you could make an enormous fuss if you wanted; the press are hungry for 'proper news' at the moment if the front pages today are anything to go by! Yes, Hazel go for it. I used to be married to a journalist and I know the papers would love it, especially as another supermarket has just published the most obscene profit increase. It might help further the cause. BUT leave it a few days ... The budget would bury anything else at the moment. Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
