WE ARE WHAT WE EAT

[Stanley]

Understood Ken, and the vet shortage due in large part to the government giving the provision contract to one firm who have failed but not been replaced.
[The contract for Official Controls delivery in approved meat and dairy establishments in England and Wales will be delivered by Eville and Jones Ltd, on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) from 30 March 2020.]

[Tizer]

`Cambridge University study finds Anglo-Saxon kings were mostly vegetarian' LINK
`Anglo-Saxon kings were mostly vegetarian before the Vikings settled, according to new studies. Cambridge University researchers analysed more than 2,000 skeletons and found elites ate no more meat than other social groups. One study also suggested peasants occasionally hosted lavish meat feasts for their rulers. Researchers said the findings overturned major assumptions about early medieval English history.'...

[Tripps]

Anglo-Saxon kings were mostly vegetarian

It's a bit of a jump between the article and the headline conclusion I'd say. Strange they don't connect him with climate catastrophe or gender dysphoria and get a 'woke' treble up as well. Reinforces my mild prejudice against the BBC nicely.

I'd vaguely heard of King Ina - referred to here as King Ine in fact I knew someone once a long time ago. whose name was Ina. Now I know why. I see no mention of avocados or almond milk in his wiki entry. That will need to be updated.

A quick google search shows this would not be a good subject for discussion with my Tagalog speaking friends.

[Stanley]

Iceland announce that they are going to have to go back to using palm oil in some products due to the shortage of vegetable oil caused by the war in Ukraine. Someone should tell that nice Mr Eustise who said that the Ukrainian war would not be a problem for our food supplies.

[Tizer]

I don't understand the claim that they have to go back to using palm oil. Any product that used sunflower oil could use rapeseed/canola oil instead. They are similar to each other but not to palm oil.

[Stanley]

They say that that is in short supply as well Peter and warn that the cost of all oils has risen meaning increases in the cost of many prepared foods.

[Stanley]

I heard a food expert talking about the changes we are going to see later in the year caused by decisions being made now by growers not to plant crops because they can see no profit as costs rise. There is also the added complication of not enough hands to do the fieldwork. The man's point was that this will not be clear until the public suddenly realises there hasn't been a harvest. I fear we have a lot to learn this year and it isn't going to be a happy experience.
Another thing that strikes me is that if and when the shortages occur, they will be rationed by price and only the poor will suffer. Those who can afford the increase will have no change in diet.

[Big Kev]

I was quite excited to read this
It (Focacia) does not contain simple sugars like sucrose, the classic white sugar, which promotes blood glucose spikes responsible for sudden hunger pangs. Rather, focaccia provides complex carbohydrates that slowly give the body energy and help better regulate blood sugar levels,” Schirò explains. If it’s made with whole wheat flour then it’s got an extra edge. “It provides a greater amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber. The latter helps slow down the absorption of sugars and prolongs the feeling of fullness, reducing the appetite in the morning.
Not sure on using whole wheat flour but focacia and coffee, instead of cereal, would be a nice breakfast treat.

[Stanley]

I get confused with all these different opinions and keep it simple by classing Focaccia as bread and therefore verboten. Susan brought me two haggis back from the Mull of Kintyre and I note they have 16g of carbs per 100g. I shall risk that as they are only an occasional item for me and I love them so much.

[Stanley]

I listened yesterday to a lady in full time work who can't afford to pay for her 8 year old son's school meals and worries what will happen when October comes and another expense.... It was part of a discussion about whether to give all kids free school meals. As far as I'm concerned this is a no-brainer, think of the saving to the NHS in 20 years if the kids are well nourished now in their formative years.
I also heard other arguments in favour. Universal free meals would stop any bullying because the recipients wouldn't be marked out as 'different'. Also, something that I didn't know, in some school canteens some items on the menu are barred to those on free meals. That's a weird form of apartheid! and should be stopped immediately.
Why are we having trouble financing feeding kids? They should reinstate free school milk as well.

[Stanley]

I 'treated' myself to a three egg butty on Ciabatta bread yesterday as a reward for being good. I paid the price with a violent reaction to it that still isn't over. Bread is definitely streng verboten!

[Stanley]

I bring you glad tidings of great joy.... See THISreport about a study by researchers at the University of Washington, published in The Lancet, which found that 59% of those who drank harmful amounts were people aged 15 to 39 – for whom alcohol provides no health benefit and poses risks including injuries relating to drinking or car accidents, suicides or murders. And three quarters of harmful drinkers were men. Senior author Dr Emmanuela Gakidou, professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine in the US, said: “Our message is simple: young people should not drink, but older people may benefit from drinking small amounts."
" While it may not be realistic to think young adults will abstain from drinking, we do think it’s important to communicate the latest evidence so that everyone can make informed decisions about their health " (Dr Emmanuela Gakidou,)
So, the older you are the better it is for you.

[Stanley]

I heard a doctor who specialises in nutrition giving evidence in a debate over the use of synthetic powdered protein by athletes, especially gymnasts and body-builders.
His verdict was that whilst they were useful they couldn't compare with good natural protein because that carries the micro-nutrients and minerals that are available in good soil. He said that he couldn't say exactly why these were important because not enough research has been done into them and their effects.
I'm so p[leased to hear a scientist admitting this. I have been banging on about their importance for years.....

[Big Kev]

Might have to look into this a bit more, I do like a bit o' cheese
https://www.healio.com/news/primary-car ... berg-daily

[Stanley]

Looks like a clever promotion for Jarlsberg cheese to me Kev. Why pick Camembert for the comparison?

[Tizer]

`Japan urges its young people to drink more to boost economy' LINK
`Japan's young adults are a sober bunch - something authorities are hoping to change with a new campaign. The younger generation drinks less alcohol than their parents - a move that has hit taxes from beverages like sake (rice wine). So the national tax agency has stepped in with a national competition to come up with ideas to reverse the trend. The "Sake Viva!" campaign hopes to come up with a plan to make drinking more attractive - and boost the industry.'...

[Stanley]

I heard that report Peter and it struck me as an oddball idea, something the Japanese seem to do occasionally.
Inscrutable is the word I think.....

[Tizer]

This could be a great benefit to the world as long as the genetic change is carried over to the next generations and farmers are not forced to buy their seed from a company (remember Monsanto?)...
`Food crops made 20% more efficient at harnessing sunlight' LINK

[Stanley]

I heard that report and it sounds too good to be true. When they say they make plants more productive doesn't that mean that more is taken out of the land? That being the case, how are those nutrients put back in?

[Tizer]

But that's always the case because we need more food for a growing world population.

[Stanley]

Which is why, at long last, the science of looking after the soil is being re-invented and called 'regenerative farming'.
Our ancestors understood this well and that's why mixed farming was so widespread but went out of favour as higher production levels were demanded and farmers started concentrating on quantity, encouraged by a government that wanted to increase food production in order to finish food rationing in the 1950s. They achieved that but in the process made us more reliant on artificial fertilizers and introduced monocultures into farming....

[Tizer]

Here we go with the populist deregulation...
`Liz Truss could scrap anti-obesity strategy in drive to cut red tape: Exclusive: Health officials ‘aghast’ as review launched of measures to deter people from eating junk food' Guardian
`The UK government could scrap its entire anti-obesity strategy after ministers ordered an official review of measures designed to deter people from eating junk food, the Guardian can reveal. The review could pave the way for Liz Truss to lift the ban on sugary products being displayed at checkouts as well as “buy one get one free” multi-buy deals in shops. The restrictions on advertising certain products on TV before the 9pm watershed could also be ditched. The review – which was ordered by the Treasury – is seen as part of the prime minister’s drive to cut burdens on business and help consumers through the cost of living crisis. Whitehall sources said the review was “deregulatory in focus” and is expected to lead to the new government jettisoning a raft of anti-obesity policies inherited from Boris Johnson, Truss’s predecessor in Downing Street.'...

[Stanley]

No surprise there Peter. Just another example of the government in power abrogating responsibility for food regulations designed to promote healthy life styles. This after all the agreements that these measures are the best way of reducing some of the 'modern diseases' triggered by obesity like diabetes.
We saw evidence of this trend in the Truss thinking during the leadership election when she floated daft ideas like having a 'German Style' system of speed limits. That is, no limit on motorways....
In contrast there is no sign of her government lightening the regulatory load on small slaughter houses which is leading to closure. This is a vital matter for farmers but is ignored completely. Some regulations are themselves, plain daft! Funny how those are the ones that survive.

[Tizer]

Regardless of our political affiliations (or lack of in my case) I think we can all concur that our leaders are making some very bad decisions which will lead to even more trouble than we already have and will trash the UK's reputation abroad. It's time to get back to real, grown-up politics!

[Stanley]

Quite right Peter. It is a matter of continuing amazement to me that ridiculous policies like the ones that are forcing small family-owned slaughter houses out of business are not extinguished. Is it simply inertia in the bureaucracy or are there more sinister reasons like lobbying by the large slaughter houses?