HUGH'S programe

[carlseawolf]

On the back of the programe and the details you have seen will you be making the change or staying put on 2 for �5 .
If you do free range or organic already then good for you.

[sewer rat]

We do free-range but must admit only changed in the last year or so. Maybe because we can source very locally grown free-range now (chicken and eggs) but I do taste a difference (in both) and there does seem to be a better quality and tastier meat on the free range bird

[sewer rat]

Another thought on organic - many people may raise organic chickens but can only class them as free range as the slaughterhouse is not organically approved (though quite how you organically approve a slaughterhouse I'm not exactly sure)

[Alice]

I think supermarkets etc should have to show a video above their meat sections so that we can see how the animals have been reared and slaughtered. I'm not vegetarian, but I do believe animals have a right to a decent life and to be killed humanely. That costs money. I buy small amounts of good quality meat. In between times there's pasta, beans, pulses.

[johnty greentoes]

The poll is a great idea.

[Grandpadragon]

Now getting Freerange from Farmers Market cheaper than Tesco freerange. Supplier is only 5 miles away from us so will go to farm if we run short between monthly markets. Large Freerange eggs also cheaper but comes from much father away.

[Winged one]

We have not gone for the 2 for �5 type of chicken in a long time (not since I used to buy chicken wings at 20 for IR�1 when I was a broke student).

We keep meaning to buy more free range and organic meat, but it is very expensive in the city. When we are at home, we do (and I usually fill the picnic bag with ice-blocks and meat for the freezer on return) or if I get to the farmer's market on a friday.

But as a general rule of thimb, we buy in the supermarket and we buy the more expensive range of ordinary meat and occasionally free range/organic if it looks reasonable (both in terms of appearance and price). A lot of the time, they don't have what I want in the free range shelves anyway.

I am also trying to get to the (somewhat) local butcher more often, but it's in the opposite direction to most other shops and they are actually quite rare around here. Hopefully when I hand in my thesis in April and my weekends are slightly less stressed, I can go there more often too.

[vegnut]

We buy 2 for a fiver, but i will be looking for free range from any local farms (got my eye on one i passed the other day). I'd rather give my money to the local farmers than to the large superstores. I think these large companies robb these guy's, with how much they pay them for their chooks.

[Matt.]

I can't say I've ever bought the two for a fiver because we just don't eat roast dinners. I think this documentary has really missed a point by focussing soley on whole birds, rather than all of what 'chicken' is - breasts, legs, ready made meals - which must make up for the majority of meat.

I have to say I have been guilty for buying the intensive meat. I often by the four chicken breasts packs which are exactly the same as the two for a fiver birds. Its somewhat odd and embarrasing that I just never really make the link, despite being aware of intensive farming and choosing differently if I was to have a roast. It must be so common in the public (not necessarily on here) that people don't make the link between all forms of meat and the source.

Thsi programme has definitely given me the kick that was needed and from now on I'll only buy free range. I'll also stop buying any form of ready meal, restrauraunt meal or takeaway that doesn't use FR either. I'll still be shopping at tesco because of the time constraints and convenince but will try to use local produce where possible. Ideally I'd like to use the local farmers markets but as they are always mid week I can't get there - how stupid is that?

[Birdie Wife]

I still buy cheap chicken occasionally but I'm intending to raise my own chickens for meat next year - does that balance out overall? We have so much good free range, organic meat up here (venison, pork, beef) that's it's a shame to buy chicken really.

[Seahorse]

I think this documentary has really missed a point by focussing soley on whole birds, rather than all of what 'chicken' is - breasts, legs, ready made meals - which must make up for the majority of meat.

I was thinking the same thing. It's quite easy for me to buy a whole free range chicken but much harder to find breasts/legs/pre sliced 'sarnie' chicken etc. And I've never, ever seen things like pre made nuggets or Kievs made with free range meat (though to be fair, I haven't looked that hard). I know I can buy a whole bird and sort it all out myself but sometimes I'd prefer to only buy a small amount.

I hope there's a 'knock on' effect to products like these.

[moggssue]

Sorry to be a pain, but what are we meaning by free range or organic? I buy my chickens from the local farm so really are they both?! When I need, say, a couple of breasts and the farm isnt open (only opens Fri and Sat), I go with Tesco Willow Farm (sorry, is that advertising?).

[Protea]

Although we've been buying free range chicken to eat at home for over a year, the programme really reminded me that i don't check where chicken has come from when i eat out at pubs/restaurants/take-aways etc. And even more difficult is eating at other people's houses - how do you manage that? Fortunatley we don't eat ready meals or breaded chicken from the supermarket so at least theres a few less thing sot worry about.

From now on i will specifically be asking whether the chicken is free range when i eat out - even if they don't serve it, purely by asking for it you are opening their eyes to potential demand.

What we need Hugh to do now is to follow up his programme with some graphic advertisements in national press and magazines, got to keep the images in peoples heads!

[yoanbob]

Sorry to be a pain, but what are we meaning by free range or organic? I buy my chickens from the local farm so really are they both?! When I need, say, a couple of breasts and the farm isnt open (only opens Fri and Sat), I go with Tesco Willow Farm (sorry, is that advertising?).

Organic (soil association) is like free range only better they have organic food, play out on organic land (no pestacides) and have more room and more enrichment as well as not being given drugs just in case they only have drugs if they really need them. It doesnt nessisarily follow that because you buy at a farm shop they are organic or free range, if they are either they would say, a lot of farm shops are intensive farms they just dont tell you unless you ask.

I think this poll is great it will show how many of us will switch, I thought it wouldnt affect anyone who wasnt already eating free range but it looks like I was wrong.

I have seen organic chicken nuggets at asda.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Sorry to be a pain, but what are we meaning by free range or organic? I buy my chickens from the local farm so really are they both?! When I need, say, a couple of breasts and the farm isnt open (only opens Fri and Sat), I go with Tesco Willow Farm (sorry, is that advertising?).

Sounds like your chickens from the local farm are probably free range, but not necessarily organic. Depends what he feeds 'em on.

The leaflet that came with Mr Sainsbury's letter says:

'Free Range: This chicken has been reared on small, family-run farms in the West Country. The birds are free to roam in grassy, shaded paddocks during the day and this healthy, stress-free environment helps to produce chicken with an excellent flavour and texture.

SO organic chicken: All our SO organic chickens have been reared to strict Soil Association standards on organic farms in the West Country. They roam by day in large organic pastures after each crop has been harvested. Being inquisitive creatures, they obtain some of their feed naturally from the fields. This results in a highly textured bird with a fantastic flavour.'