Guest Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 ***those on a diet, avert your eyes now!*** DH just went out to buy some cakes, just thought I'd let you know that the Co-op use free range eggs in their own brand cakes but a huge company like 'Mr Kipling' do NOT. I sent this to the people at Mr Kipling "Could you please advise if you have any plans to stop using eggs from battery/caged hens in your products in the future? The Co-op use free range eggs in their own brand cakes so we have decided to switch to buying them until you stop using battery/caged eggs and I will be telling everyone I know and posting this info on internet forums. There are a lot of us out there that care about what we eat and the animals that produce it. I would love to hear your comments." I know some of you will think, "here she goes again" but I'm sure there's some of you out there that would like this info so here you go. I normally make my own cakes but sometimes you just can't be bothered, you know? DH highly recommends "Truly Irresistable Caramel Pecan Cup Cakes" but there are other cakes in the Co-op range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Nice one Poet! (I love Co-op ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I like the fact that Co-op do loads of Fair trade stuff (especially wine ) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 There isn't one anywhere near me. Not worth the bother or the petrol used to travel to the nearest one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 We are lucky to have several good co-op stores near us and we use them as much as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I'm quite partial to the fair-trade chocolate brownies they do! (I bought a pack when they were for sale on their sell by date!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Mr Kipling can't even make veggie Bakewells so this really doesn't surprise me. Crushed beatles in a bakewell? Yuk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Mr Kipling can't even make veggie Bakewells so this really doesn't surprise me. Crushed beatles in a bakewell? Yuk! Seriously though.......where do they fit in to the recipe?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Food colouring on the cherry on the top, I assume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Slightly off topic here but still on the Mr Kipling subject: I used to live near Huddersfield on the canal and just up the towpath from us was an old mill, which was a packaging company. Mr Kipling lorries used to come up all the time, to deliver the part packaged pies etc. for this company to put the cardboxes on - I asked the drivers once where they'd come from and I think he said Leicestershire. The pies are made in one place then sent somewhere else to be put into the plastic packaging then up to Yorkshire to have the cardboard packaging back on before going back to a warehouse to be sent onto supermarkets. So not only do they have no regard for chickens but they really don't care about their carbon footprint! The drivers were very rude too and used to make a real mess outside our houses and demolished part of the old bridge three times!!! I know that's not Mr Kipling's fault but as a result of it I vowed never to buy any Mr Kipling products ever again - the egg situation just confirms it further. I like the Co-op. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 response from Mr Kipling.... Dear Justine Thank you for your e-mail As a responsible manufacturer, we carry out considerable research and consider all the options before deciding on ingredients to use in our products. In the case of free range eggs, we actually use reconstiuted egg in those of our products which contain egg as an ingredient. We are currently unable to source a free range supply of this at a commercially viable price. This is an issue that we take very seriously and I appreciate the comments you have made about the matter. We will certainly consider using free range in the future if this situation changes. Thank you for letting us know your views about the matter. Thank you for taking the time to contact us Yours sincerely Elinor Murray Customer Care Mr Kipling Cakes they seem to have overlooked the fact that the Co-op seem to be able to source them! I shall put that point to her... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 The words "commercially viable price" will be their get out I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 The words "commercially viable price" will be their get out I'm afraid. well, I guess we just spread the word and hit them where it hurts, in their bank account. Everyone, do me a favour and spread the word about the Co-op versus Mr Kipling. TTFN xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I have sent this back.... Dear Elinor I really appreciate you getting back to me. I have a question though, the Co-op seem to be able to source reconstituted free range eggs for their cakes so why can't your company? I am sorry but you cannot possibly call yourselves "A responsible manufacturer" if you perpetuate the suffering of battery hens by using battery eggs. Regards Justine I'll let you know what they say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 That'll make interesting reading Poet. I suspect that your first response from them was a standard drafted email; your response will start them off a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 When they reply send a thank you and mention that you and the people you are in contact with via various online forums (or whatever) will start buying Mr Kipling products again once you can guarantee that free-range eggs will be used in all your products. That will wind them up - companies are desperate to know what is out there on the www about them (and they know its mostly the negative stuff that gets talked about) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Mr Kipling can't even make veggie Bakewells so this really doesn't surprise me. Crushed beatles in a bakewell? Yuk! Seriously though.......where do they fit in to the recipe?? Chookiehen is correct - it's in the cochineal (E120) that goes into the red cherry. Pics here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal Small amount of info here: http://www.vegsoc.org/info/stumbling.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Mr Kipling can't even make veggie Bakewells so this really doesn't surprise me. Crushed beatles in a bakewell? Yuk! Seriously though.......where do they fit in to the recipe?? Chookiehen is correct - it's in the cochineal (E120) that goes into the red cherry. Pics here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal Small amount of info here: http://www.vegsoc.org/info/stumbling.html Good lord!! You have to ask why don't you? Aren't cherries red anyway? Who cares if they are not a screaming bright scarlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I ALWAYS buy natural, i.e. undyed, glace cherries for baking. I had some people round for tea a few weeks ago, and one of them asked what was on the cakes, so I explained - glace cherries, but not as you know them. (They are a sort of brown/purpley colour, for anyone who isn't familiar with them) and I got the pot out to show them. They were shocked to realise that the 'normal' cherries they were used to had colour in them! When you see the undyed ones, you realise how much cochineal they must use to achieve that bright red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 That's interesting Olly - I don't like glace cherries, so hadn't given it much though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 My mum bought Ethan some Smarties yesterday ( I know, Nestle ) & I have just read the packaging very carefully. It does not say that it is suitable for vegetarians, & has Carmninc acid in it- which is just what we are talking about here. Of course, the information on the tube is misleading the public with "good" phrases like "no artificial colours"- I think I would prefer the artificial myself. I wonder just how many people actually know what the ingredients in their food are made from- I certainly didn't know about cochineal before I read this thread. I am feeling a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I always buy unsulphurised apricots, they add sulphur dioxide to make dried apricots yellow/orange. Normal dried apricots are brown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I get very irritated about colourings in food especially things like curries Are people so daft they think that curry should be bright red or orange I always laugh when they go on about the rise in hyper children and wonder if anyone has looked at the link between the availability of food colouring and the rise I know they suggest it is the case but I have no idea if anyone has been brave enough to look into it I know cochineal is a distasteful idea but it is at least natural Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Louise, both Rosie and i are sensitive to colourings and additives - she becomes almost unmanageable and I find that red food colouring makes my mouth tingle and swell and I get breathless. We just avoid it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
