What we spend on food

The controversy over horse meat in burgers (I gather it was Tesco value range) coincided with a book I have been reading about.

It appears in the 1950`s we used to spend 33% or one third of our income on food that compares with just 17% today.

I do remember eating very well as a child, large meat joints that used to last for days fresh fruit and veg from the local shops home made pies and soups I could go on but if you were a war baby you would know what I mean, and allotments were everywhere probably a hangover from the war years. Most gardens grew beans and tomatoes in fact I had the task of collecting the manure from the road after the milkman`s horse had been, prized for the roses I was told, probably for the beans as well.

So food now is cheap, perhaps it has to be if we want more disposable income to spend on foreign holidays, ipads, wide screen TV`s and so on. In the 1950`s you couldn`t buy any of that.

I deplore Tesco and other large supermarkets in the way they steamroller any opposition out of the way, but the high street is fighting back Totnes in Devon has said no to a Costa Coffee shop it`s a start.

The book if you are interested is Consumed: How Shopping Fed the Class System by Harry Wallop

0 members like this

Comment by Colin Robinson on January 19, 2013 at 21:22: I remember those days very well, David, having grown up in a small North Yorkshire market town while rationing was still in place. We never went without but the food was simple and the big difference between then and now is that nothing was wasted. We'd get at least two family meals from a joint of meat and even the bones were boiled to get every ounce of goodness from them. It dismays me to see young families piling supermarket trolleys high with junk food. I don't think they ever eat anything that could be considered natural, everything is processed, packaged and sterile. And then half of it gets thrown away because it has reached its sell-by date.

I know I'm ranting a bit but food quality is something that should be high on everyone's agenda. At least the members of this forum appreciate that.

Comment by elaine rickett on January 19, 2013 at 23:49: I watched a programme the other day about food waste it was really disgusting to see how wasteful we have become. The supermarkets were the worst culprits in every sense - forcing farmers to dispose of crops that were the wrong size etc. Where and when will it end?

Comment by John Martin on January 20, 2013 at 1:16: As a farmers son I find it really worrying the hold that supermarkets have on our industry. A year or so ago in the farming press 3 out the top 7 most influential people in agricultural were the CEO's of the leading super markets. Not a good situation.

Comment by Mr Sparkles on January 20, 2013 at 11:19: The Trouble is that its very difficult for farmers to make a stand, if they refuse to abide by the supermarkets rules they have to find other markets, not easy! if they go along with them they have to dispose of tons of perfectly good fruit and veg. As Colin says people on here realise the value of "real" food. If i get a chicken it makes a Sunday roast, caserole on Monday and carcase boiled to make stock. Toadys society has been reared on supermarket food and know no different. Its a sad situation for those who know both sides of the coin. i expect soon that people will be living on "space travel" type food ! capsules you just add water and hey presto a ready cooked meal, but no for me i'm afraid!