rachel19 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I buy value packs of meat (e.g trays of their sausages, chicken thighs,mince) from our local butcher and it is cheaper than buying in the supermarket - you can pay £7 for two chicken breasts in the supermarket but i can get a tray of 10-12 from the butcher for £14 or a tray of chicken thighs for £4.99. I also make use of the cheaper things in there such as rabbits and pheasants when in season making it as economical as it can be. I also get an organic fruit and veg box delivered every week and i spend less on food per month than any of the people we know who shop exclusively in supermarkets so it can be done if you want to - i value good tasting food and make everything from scratch but not everyone is that botheed i suppose. I'm often surprised by people when they say they're not really interested in food but everyones different i suppose. I would however think that if i bought beefburgers, even the really cheap ones, i would expect to find beef (of varying descriptions) and fillers to make them cheap - not horse and pork also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 This has got me thinking. A couple of months ago, there was a competition at my son's school to come up with a lunch menu that would cost less than £2.00 per head, including main course and pudding. The two winners got to see their menus served at school. It certainly got him thinking about the cost of different ingredients, but I was surprised at how easy he found it, and realised it was because he's already well versed in cooking meals. Now we have this thread with various people - me included - making claims for either really cheap good food or really convenient good food. Is it worth us setting up a "cheap or convenient" thread where people can post recipes? I'd guess qualification would be cost per head being below a certain threshold (perhaps £3 to feed a family of four), total cooking time being below 20 minutes or recipes that are largely prepare and forget, taking no more than about 10 minutes of the cook's active time. Is that a reasonable idea? Would people use it? Could it be a worthwhile reference of good, nutritious food for busy, cash-strapped lifestyles? I suppose I'm suggesting that if we make claims then we should be able to back them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Great idea Major Can't get cheaper than the pheasant breasts in my freezer... a brace was kindly donated by a friend who just had too many from picking up at a shoot. I just skinned the birds and harvested what meat I could, they are now frozen until I can give some thought on what to do with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Just been chuckling at these on another forum: Well at least no one will get Mad Cow disease from a horse burger I did like the fact that in one report, the interview guy was saying to the member of the public.." and this sausage has 51% meat, of which 23% is horse..." and the woman looked horrified, and claimed it was " disgusting that it was horse meat" yet never seemed bothered that the sausage was only 51% meat in the first place - I mean, what on earth was the other half of the sausage made out of ? Don't know what all the fuss is about. Its all part of a stable diet. This is more serious: People are missing the point - which is that if horse was sneaked in the burger meat, what else has been sneaked in previously? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Hmmm. Yes, there have been several going around at work too. I went to Tesco's yesterday and bought a bottle of Bacardi, a bottle of Lambs and a pack of burgers. So that's white rum, Navy rum and Red Rum. I got back and had one of those burgers for my tea. I've still got a bit between my teeth. Mind you, the burger tasted a bit funny, so today I went to the freezer and checked the rest…. …and they're off! Isn't it ironic that "hamburgers" is an anagram of "Shergar bum"….. There were two more, but they are a tad too rude for here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 There are some more jokes here. I'm less shocked at the discovery that there was horsemeat in the burgers, than I am at learning that the horsemeat probably came from Ireland, was shipped to Eastern Europe, and then back to Ireland again before ending up in burgers in the UK. How on earth does that work? and how can they possibly sell products so cheaply with all that transport involved? I like the idea of a 'thrifty recipes' thread. Having grown up in a large family with not a lot of money, I'm sure I could come up with a few of my mum's favourites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Personally I blame it on the consumers; supermarkets are under immense pressure to provide competitively priced products, in turn, they pass this on to their suppliers; asking them to cut their prices. Inevitably this manifests itself in the use of cheap fillers, MRM and any other cheap meat lookalikes that they can lay their hands on. Thus the supermarkets end up (albeit unwittingly) selling burgers or sausages with dubious ingredients... it's not just the horse meat (which should have been declared) but goodness knows what else they have got away with thus far We can help with this by boycotting the supermarkets, especially where the purchase of meat products are concerned; just as with battery eggs, vote with your shopping trolley and encourage all your friends to do so. Buy your meat wisely, buy locally and use it wisely, choose a butcher who can assure you of the provenance of his wares. There will always be those who don't care about the quality or provenance of their food, but leave them to it and just be sure that your conscience is clean. The source of the meat is a problem, but the duplicity and the fact that the supermarkets were so ignorant of the situation are another matter. Sorry... militant moment.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Oh dear, oh very dear. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-21193271 Tesco isn't really having a good time at the moment, is it? I can accept the possibility that the adulteration of their burgers may have been without their knowledge, and purely the suppliers' fault. I can even accept the possibility their original apology was genuine, though I suspect they were far more contrite about being caught than the actual offence. However, I cannot see how this new story could have happened. If a product is removed from sale, it's good that IT systems should be updated immediately to show a warning. However, why is it still possible to override that warning at all, and what legitimate reasons could there be for that withdrawn product to still be on the shop floor over a week after it was supposed to be removed. After all, if there's no packet for customers to pick up, there's nothing to scan at the till, and no warning message is needed. The only conclusion I can come to is that those burgers were still in a Tesco store because Tesco wanted them to be there, and given my lack of trust in Tesco's morals, I then have to question what their motives are. No, that's not quite true; I'm fairly sure their motives are financial, so what I question is what they were planning to do with those burgers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 The only conclusion I can come to is that those burgers were still in a Tesco store because Tesco wanted them to be there, and given my lack of trust in Tesco's morals, I then have to question what their motives are. No, that's not quite true; I'm fairly sure their motives are financial, so what I question is what they were planning to do with those burgers. Exactly, that's why I call them Te$co. greed and profit at any cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Even if you buy value mince Can we be sure whats in this ?? H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Incidentally, all the reports mention horse DNA was found in the hamburgers. Nowhere is it stated that the DNA came from horse meat. If you start to mistrust what's been put in, how far should that mistrust go? Ain't that a reassuring thought...... NOT! Interesting - What other material might contain horse DNA (if not from horse meat) ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Eyeballs, hooves, internal organs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Eyeballs, hooves, internal organs. Oh - OK - I thought it was hinting at growth hormone or something. Actually, as long as the proportions are the same as in the whole animal then I think the whole animal should be used and not wasted. So if a pig (say) is 5% organs etc. then any pig meat product could contain 5% organs. Not sure about hooves though. But beef should be beef and not horse. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Very true though. You'd love the butcher LBB and I use; they have some really good quality meat, poultry and game, I buy what I can't get from friends there, and they also supply the fresh dog mince and bones for the hounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 Amazing really that your dogs eat better than some people do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 The dog mince contains meat s"Ooops, word censored!"s, offal and heart, so probably better than what's in some cheap burgers and sausages. I am going to chuck some local venison and a couple of those pheasant breasts through the mincer at the weekend and make up some burgers...Phil calls them Roadkill Burgers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 And today its Findas Beef Lasagne which is 100% horse and comes with a do not eat warning due to the fear of vet drugs I am valuing my free range butcher and farmers market and my ability to make from scratch all the more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 I buy economy mince from my raw meat supplier which is pretty much the same thing. OH has asked me warily on a few occasions 'which meat have you made the lasagne/bolognese/etc with?' As if I would cook the dog meat for him I love the idea of 'roadkill burgers' At least you know what's gone into them (and come summer time you will have the poshest BBQ around - I bet no one else makes venison and pheasant burgers). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 I purchased a packet of lean Irish beef mince reduced from £3.70 to £1.30 because it was short dated. I admit it did cross my mind that I couldn't be sure it was beef. I used it and it made a lovely meal with generous portions for 4 people. I'm on the verge of buying my own mincer now though. I've been thinking about it for a while, today's news has pushed me a step closer to doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 And today its Findas Beef Lasagne which is 100% horse and comes with a do not eat warning due to the fear of vet drugs When I read your post 100% I thought you were joking Space Chick but I have now heard the news It is very worrying. I cook a lot from scratch but I know my DD buys such things for her and the 2 girls for when time is short Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 I love the idea of 'roadkill burgers' At least you know what's gone into them (and come summer time you will have the poshest BBQ around - I bet no one else makes venison and pheasant burgers). They do I got the idea from our butcher (Brackley Butchers) they do all sorts of lovely combos and their meat is top quality. In the summer, I walk dogs with one of the butchers, he does all the prepping and makes sure that I get nice things for the dogs and saws up the lamb ribs into good lengths for them. My main worry about the use of horse meat is not about eating it as it's a delicacy in France and north Africa, where I have knowingly eaten it myself, but the deceit, lack of transparency and that as horse meat isn't part of the human 'food reservoir' in the UK, one wonders whether they have been cleared for human consumption on the basis that they could have been given meds which wouldn't have been used on (say) meat cattle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 And today its Findas Beef Lasagne which is 100% horse and comes with a do not eat warning due to the fear of vet drugs And it's a real risk. Years ago it became compulory for all horses to have a passport, this was an EU thing and was supposed to mean that any drugs horses were given were listed in their passport and would prevent such animals entering the food chain if the withdrawl period for the drugs hadn't been reached, which could be anything from antibiotics, antiinflamatories, worming products, sedatives. We don't tend to eat horse meat in the UK (or this was the opinion anyway) so recording prescribed drugs in a horses passport isn't strictly adhered to and if so not particularly checked. More an more horses are being sent for slaughter in this country due to economic conditions, the cost of keeping them, the cost of insurance and treatment if not insured, the value of even the best horses has plumeted. There is a slaughter house that does horses near us which is currently under investigation for cruelty to horses, it's been widely known for years but they have got away with it. They don't have to tick the same boxes on horse Friday as they do the rest of the week and there is no meat inspector checking carcasses are fit for human consumption. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Don't get me started on welfare at abbatoirs we are lucky that there's a brilliant one near here (Lesley uses it) where welfare is paramount. There was an interesting article in New Scientist a couple of months back about how the way that we treat animals has an impact on how we treat humans.... I don't think I need to explain that one on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Personally, I don't expect any incidence of horse meds being found in supermarket meat products. This has nothing to do with misplaced trust, but the simple fact that meds, even unlicensed ones, cost money. I strongly suspect, as many do, it seems, that one of the major sources of horse meat in this scandal is the New Forest. Periodically some are auctioned off, and lately British abbatoirs have been buying them for about £10 per horse. That's a lot of meat for next to nothing, so not surprising expensive beef is being watered down by almost cost free filler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Personally, I don't expect any incidence of horse meds being found in supermarket meat products. This has nothing to do with misplaced trust, but the simple fact that meds, even unlicensed ones, cost money. I disagree, it's going to be a rareity but I certainly know of two horses in the last six months that were sent for slaughter after being on various medication for extensive periods, they were both competition horses with injuries which were hoped would come good, they didn't and the decision was made. It's unlikely but there is no tracebility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
