The Good Old Days

[Cagey75]

I was brought up in a mining village in County Durham and I reckon the first time I heard of pasta's existence was around 1993 when I went to university (some of the posher lads from other parts of the country used to cook it). We grew up on stews and broths and so pasta was completely alien to us and dare I say un-English, at least in the part of England I come from anyway. 'Still don't bother with pasta now, 'probably eaten it once or twice when I was starving and there was not much else on a menu. I've never bought and cooked it. 'Not my type of food at all, 'still broths and stews for me.

'Just thought I'd randomly add that my Grandad used to eat pig's trotters with salt and pepper on them. He loved them. It was not borne out of poverty. In the mining villages in those days, everybody had a wage coming in, everybody grew their own vegetables and had hens for eggs and the like, plenty of rabbits knocking around for rabbit pie. He just loved them!

I grew up through the 80's in Ireland, the only 'pasta' we had that I can remember was tins of spaghetti, but pretty sure towards the end of the 80's full on spag-bol was a common dinner just as common as pizza. I like pasta but it tends to pile the pounds on for me, as do most carb-dense foods, and like you I'd opt for a hearthy beefy stew [esp with dumplings!] over that spag-bol or carbonara 99% of the time.

My dad used to eat 'Crubeens' [boiled pigs feet] when he was younger - he also told us when he was younger [he grew up in the 50's] his granny would give them pig's head as a treat! the whole 'hog' literally, slapped up on the table and they'd have at it, just pulling the meat off the skull lol

 

[Cobra]

I'd opt for a hearthy beefy stew [esp with dumplings!]

You can't have a beef stew without dumplings!

My dad used to eat 'Crubeens' [boiled pigs feet] when he was younger ...his granny would give them pig's head as a treat!

Mum used to cook trotters and make brawn from half a pigs head... Yummy

 

[andya700]

You can't have a beef stew without dumplings!


Mum used to cook trotters and make brawn from half a pigs head... Yummy

In French supermarkets you will see tete de porc and jambon persillaise, which are absolutely delicious.. You don't see liver sausage over here anymore, I used to love that with cucumber pickle in sandwiches.

 

[Nod]

All sorts of heads in Cretan markets!

 

[kennethwfd]

Shops (even supermarkets) were open 9 to 5 only during the 60s and 70s Never on Sundays or bank holidays. Included Christmas Eve, and certainly Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (apart from the sales)

 

[Nod]

Don't forget early closing day as well.

 

[Songbird Admirer]

Lol my mams the same if it can walk out of the fridge on its own its time to get rid. I see they are starting to phase sell by and best before dates out now.

'Never causes her a problem! I reckon it's pretty obvious that sell-by dates are part of the marketing ploy to get people to throw away food, eat more and ultimately buy more.

 

[Songbird Admirer]

I do that, ( both of those) ever since opening something "well within dates" that was obviously off.

I don't think that's ever happened to me, what was it?

 

[Songbird Admirer]

Don't be fooled by a fresh jar of mayonnaise though

Speaking of food and mayonnaise, who remembers when you could buy a sandwich without mayonnaise on it? These days you can't find one for love nor money!

 

[kennethwfd]

I remember when I started my first job part time for Sainsbury's, there would be the occasional blown tin, where the contents were fermenting if nothing was done, it would eventually explode

 

[Songbird Admirer]

I grew up through the 80's in Ireland, the only 'pasta' we had that I can remember was tins of spaghetti, but pretty sure towards the end of the 80's full on spag-bol was a common dinner just as common as pizza. I like pasta but it tends to pile the pounds on for me, as do most carb-dense foods, and like you I'd opt for a hearthy beefy stew [esp with dumplings!] over that spag-bol or carbonara 99% of the time.

My dad used to eat 'Crubeens' [boiled pigs feet] when he was younger - he also told us when he was younger [he grew up in the 50's] his granny would give them pig's head as a treat! the whole 'hog' literally, slapped up on the table and they'd have at it, just pulling the meat off the skull lol

That's exactly how my Grandad used to eat pig's trotters. Boiled by my Grandma and then doused in salt and pepper. I used to walk in and he'd be sat eating these trotters with fat dripping down his face! They ate pretty well really: sugary food wasn't a thing, all vegetables and eggs homegrown, meat sourced from the village butchers. 'Can't remember him eating pig's head but he may have done, I don't think it would have been a problem providing he found it tasty.

'Not a fan of pizza either. I do like certain foreign food: Thai, Mexican, Lebanese, but more often than not I prefer English home cooking. I reckon like many things it's a case of what you grew up with and many a time that doesn't leave you.

 

[Cobra]

Shops (even supermarkets) were open 9 to 5 only during the 60s and 70s Never on Sundays or bank holidays. Included Christmas Eve, and certainly Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (apart from the sales)

Until the "Corner shops" started to appear in the '70's, then it was a free for all

I don't think that's ever happened to me, what was it?

Pre-packed chicken.

 

[ancient_mariner]

'Never causes her a problem! I reckon it's pretty obvious that sell-by dates are part of the marketing ploy to get people to throw away food, eat more and ultimately buy more.

It's always important to apply both good sense and a good sense of smell.

My mother had a robust approach to best before dates, but would sometimes have a very unhappy digestive system. The dates ARE sensible, but with wisdom can sometimes be extended safely. As noted up thread, food can also spoil ahead of time, and they are there as a guide to help. However if you're a shop then the dates do need to be treated differently compared to a purchaser.

 

[Cobra]

However if you're a shop then the dates do need to be treated differently compared to a purchaser.

I picked up a marked down (almost by half) pack of bacon the other day, its sell by date was 18 days away.
Who has a pack of bacon that lasts 18 days anyway?

 

[lindsay]

I've just had a tub of Houmus with crackers for my lunch, the BB date was 17th Jan (it's obviously 29th today), it was absolutely fine - and why wouldn't it be, essentially chickpeas and oil, apart from separating maybe nothing much to go wrong. However I'd think twice about a tub of yoghurt even on it's last BB day.

My grandad on the farm had pigs brains on toast as a saturday treat every couple of weeks, while he watched the wrestling (Jackie Pallo, Mick McManus, Giant Haystacks, etc)

 

[Cobra]

while he watched the wrestling (Jackie Pallo, Mick McManus, Giant Haystacks, etc)

My Dad was an avid fan of wrestling.
We used to watch it together, while piling into various sea foods ( cockles whelks winkles etc) that my parents had bought that day, from the local market.

 

[Nod]

Humus (other spellings are available!!!) doesn't last that long here! Well, it does but only because I make it by the kilo and freeze it in 200g tubs.

I'd be more wary of some humus going off than I would be of yoghurt which is, after all, gone off milk already! I make that as well (EasiYo kits) and it lasts about a fortnight in the fridge.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Interesting. I find the taste of humous changes in just a few days, and although it's edible, I'm not a fan of it being even a week old, even in date.

 

[Nod]

Home made is a completely different animal to the bought ones, everything is so easy to adjust to taste, from texture to tahini, garlic, seasoning etc.. Best served still warm from the food processor, although that can result in high winds (well, high velocity winds from lower regions!) A pressure cooker makes cooking the chick peas far quicker.

 

[Songbird Admirer]

Pre-packed chicken.

'Reminds me of that documentary a while back where the chickens (dead) were lying around in some infested warehouse for days and when ready for sale they just painted them with some bright colour. Delivered to pretty much all of our supermarkets.

 

[JohnC6]

I picked up a marked down (almost by half) pack of bacon the other day, its sell by date was 18 days away.
Who has a pack of bacon that lasts 18 days anyway?

Talking about bacon. We bought a pack of 'back' bacon from a farm shop a few days ago and when it was was fried in sunflower oil so much water and white froth came out I had to throw it out, clean the frying pan, wipe the bacon on kitchen roll and put more oil in and carry on. We bought it at the farm shop thinking it would be better quality than the supermarket. I Googled it and the answer was that adding water increases the profit. The only way to avoid it is to buy dry-cured bacon. We use an online supplier Field and Flower and they do free -range dried cured back so we'll try it. It was difficult to compare prices but it's more expensive...possibly, as much as 50%. It's free range,too and, as you see in the first link below they are free-range products. Many years ago I talked to lady who had a disfigured face and I can't recall how it came about but she said it was the result of water in bacon mixing with hot fat/oil that 'exploded'. As it was so long ago.. 50 years,maybe, I assume she was frying in fat/lard rather than oil back then. I read that the reason water is added to bacon during the process is to help distribute the curing salts evenly but that was from the industry. Another article claimed that it was to make more profit..ie increase weight with water. Back in 2011 the EU introduced legislation that told food manufacturers that any bacon with more than 5% water content must be labelled.."added water". In the UK, at that time, 10% was allowed. The amount above that 5% must be stated on the label, too.

https://www.fieldandflower.co.uk/butchers/back-bacon-smoked#selection=pr_weight_conf:0.24__270

I found a few articles about cooking bacon in water Surely, it will lose that 'fryed' flavour. This is dated May 13 2022. https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/3347-want-crispy-tender-bacon-add-water

A Guardian article..2011. As you see, it states that the only reason water is added is to increase profit, not only re more weight equals more to pay but the time saved during the manufacturing process and they say, time is money.https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/jul/27/water-in-bacon-new-rasher-regulations

From the article: "Water is added to bacon for one reason: to make more cash. It isn't just the added water that boosts profits, it's the time saved in the process. Remember, pork contains a lot of water to begin with – as much as 30% of its weight, according to Chris Battle. Proper curing removes much of that water and doesn't add any extra. Rapid curing removes none of it, and after injection a rasher might have a water content of up to 50%. Does it matter? You know it does if you've ever tried to fry a rasher of industrial bacon. The stuff feels soaking wet when it comes out of the packet, and grey, watery sludge starts flowing the instant it hits the pan. Remember, pork contains a lot of water to begin with – as much as 30% of its weight, according to Chris Battle. Proper curing removes much of that water and doesn't add any extra."

And what did industry sources say ? What they always say and do. Treat the public like fools. Also, from the article: My bold.

"Spokespeople for industrial bacon claim the new regulations are against consumer interests because we'll all be confused by the wording and warn that prices will have to go up."

This is exactly their line when the so-called "traffic light" system was introduced re fat, sugar,saturates and salt content. Green amber-red. They said it would "confuse the public". A couple of supermarkets did introduce it but only Waitrose introduced a system most closely aligned with the Dept. of Health directive but most didn't and introduced their own version thus "confusing the public". I think they all have some version of it now and I don't doubt that those who, initially, refused to do it ..Morrisons and Tescos ..thought that they could be losing business to those who did. There's also much more awareness of the damage to health that fats, salt, sugars and saturates cause and consumers want to know what they're ingesting. Maybe I'm wrong but I can't imagine this happening in the EU. Introduce something like that to the benefit of consumers then it would be mandatory and uniform. Infact, fair play to our government back then, the UK introduced it and even now the EU, which had a more complicated system, is still assessing its value to consumers. A survey here found that shoppers were more concerned about avoiding "red" than choosing 'green'.

 

[JohnC6]

Mandatory food labelling introduced on January 7th that is causing unease amongst shoppers. " Not for EU"

https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-brexit-not-for-eu-food-label/

From the article: "LONDON — A woman picks up a packet of “Ardennes-style pâté” before dropping it in disgust. “I’m throwing it out,” she tweets, adding, “We are now eating any old s***"

 

[Nod]

Says more about her stupidity than the silly legislation!

 

[JohnC6]

Interesting. I find the taste of humous changes in just a few days, and although it's edible, I'm not a fan of it being even a week old, even in date.

My wife likes it but I don't. For me it's not a very pleasant taste, no doubt caused by tahini..(roasted sesame seed) which has a nutty taste..Squirrels would like. it, I'm sure

 

[andya700]

We don't eat much bacon or sausages anymore, maybe a couple of times a month at the most, but the other week, I bought some Denhay drycured, smoked back bacon and there was no watery gunk at all We quite like the Sainsbury's sausages, the Toulouse style and Lincolnshire (both are around 90% pork). I haven't noticed a drop in food standards, but the prices have increased since the pandemic.

 

[JohnC6]

Says more about her stupidity than the silly legislation!

I think that's a tad harsh. I can't agree .It would be my first thought, too because A. I distrust this government to do the right thing when it comes to making more profits for those who lobby on behalf of the food/drink industry and financially support the Tory party and B. The government has reneged on one animal welfare issue. There was to be a ban on exporting live animal for slaughter but that was abandoned in May last year .It was the "Kept Animals Bill". However, as a result of a lot of pressure and campaigning (headed up by Joanna Lumley and attracting 95,000 signatories, a new Bill was announced at the opening of Parliament last November and the government is urged to bring it into law quickly. It's the "Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill".

This is why many are, like that shopper, concerned and imo, rightly so.

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...rnment-waters-down-post-brexit-food-standards

The draft reads: “We will seek animal welfare-linked liberalisation in our [free trade agreements], allowing us to offer more generous liberalisation for products certified as meeting certain key animal welfare criteria specified in the agreement. But the final version is stripped of this and merely commits to “considering” animal welfare and the environment when it comes to free trade agreements"

Comments by other concerned shoppers https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-brexit-not-for-eu-food-label/

British food safety laws, which were carried over from the EU (ie post Brexit), were to be scrapped from 31 December (just gone.).under a “sunset clause” that requires any outstanding EU legislation to be reviewed and approved by ministers, to remain. However, the task is a daunting one and it's been put on the back-burner. Infact,the House of Lords is to meet on February 6th to decide whether to extend the December sunset period by an additional three years. The message here is that it wasn't for the want of trying to expunge this aspect of EU law, it was the complexity of the administration, the communications with the food industry and also, local authorities ( Food standards inspectors) It was just too much . My view is that Labour will scrap it. Anyway,in reality,it was so complicated to carry out it will probably never happen.

Something else for consumers to be worried about. The way the government, from 2010, has cut back on funding for LAs trading Standards/Food hygiene/quality inspectors.
The FSA’s (Food Standard Agency) latest accounts showed the number of food -related incidents where products were not compliant with safety legislation, were up 18% to 2,336 in the year to March 2022 .Approximately 1 million people in the UK have an illness from food each year with all the financial ,not to mention personal, implications. of that. The National Audit Office said cuts to food hygiene and standards staff had led to some local authorities failing to meet their legal responsibilities to ensure businesses complied with the law. Less than half the food standards checks that were due between 2012 and 2018 to ensure products were as described, actually took place.

No wonder this government is wanting to campaign on immigration for the forthcoming election and this is just one area, albeit a a vital one for the well being of the population, of deficiencies caused by them.

 

[Cobra]

" Not for EU"

Yeah that's the same as the old Yorkie advert "not for Girls"

 

[JohnC6]

Yeah that's the same as the old Yorkie advert "not for Girls"

Never heard of that one, so I Googled it. Lol. A bit..a lot..sexist isn't it. They wouldn't get away with that one today. 2006, I see

 

[andya700]

I think that's a tad harsh. I can't agree .It would be my first thought, too because A. I distrust this government to do the right thing when it comes to making more profits for those who lobby on behalf of the food/drink industry and financially support the Tory party and B. The government has reneged on one animal welfare issue. There was to be a ban on exporting live animal for slaughter but that was abandoned in May last year .It was the "Kept Animals Bill". However, as a result of a lot of pressure and campaigning (headed up by Joanna Lumley and attracting 95,000 signatories, a new Bill was announced at the opening of Parliament last November and the government is urged to bring it into law quickly. It's the "Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill".

This is why many are, like that shopper, concerned and imo, rightly so.

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...rnment-waters-down-post-brexit-food-standards

The draft reads: “We will seek animal welfare-linked liberalisation in our [free trade agreements], allowing us to offer more generous liberalisation for products certified as meeting certain key animal welfare criteria specified in the agreement. But the final version is stripped of this and merely commits to “considering” animal welfare and the environment when it comes to free trade agreements"

Comments by other concerned shoppers https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-brexit-not-for-eu-food-label/

British food safety laws, which were carried over from the EU (ie post Brexit), were to be scrapped from 31 December (just gone.).under a “sunset clause” that requires any outstanding EU legislation to be reviewed and approved by ministers, to remain. However, the task is a daunting one and it's been put on the back-burner. Infact,the House of Lords is to meet on February 6th to decide whether to extend the December sunset period by an additional three years. The message here is that it wasn't for the want of trying to expunge this aspect of EU law, it was the complexity of the administration, the communications with the food industry and also, local authorities ( Food standards inspectors) It was just too much . My view is that Labour will scrap it. Anyway,in reality,it was so complicated to carry out it will probably never happen.

Something else for consumers to be worried about. The way the government, from 2010, has cut back on funding for LAs trading Standards/Food hygiene/quality inspectors.
The FSA’s (Food Standard Agency) latest accounts showed the number of food -related incidents where products were not compliant with safety legislation, were up 18% to 2,336 in the year to March 2022 .Approximately 1 million people in the UK have an illness from food each year with all the financial ,not to mention personal, implications. of that. The National Audit Office said cuts to food hygiene and standards staff had led to some local authorities failing to meet their legal responsibilities to ensure businesses complied with the law. Less than half the food standards checks that were due between 2012 and 2018 to ensure products were as described, actually took place.

No wonder this government is wanting to campaign on immigration for the forthcoming election and this is just one area, albeit a a vital one for the well being of the population, of deficiencies caused by them.

It has nothing to do with our food standards, or our treatment of animals (which I must point out is a lot better than what I have witnessed in France).

Industry calls for UK-wide ‘Not for EU’ label plans to be scrapped

An FDF survey found eight in 10 of the country's biggest suppliers opposed a UK-wide approach to the post-Brexit requirements

www.thegrocer.co.uk

 

[Norkie]

My grandad on the farm had pigs brains on toast as a saturday treat every couple of weeks, while he watched the wrestling (Jackie Pallo, Mick McManus, Giant Haystacks, etc)

Oh yes, Les Kellit, Kendo Nagasaki, Shirley Crabtree! (Big Daddy) His brother was a referee if I remember correctly.

 

[Cobra]

Oh yes, Les Kellit, Kendo Nagasaki, Shirley Crabtree! His brother was a referee if I remember correctly.

I used to love the tag teams, the royal brothers for one.
And not forgetting Pat ( bomber) Roach who took to acting,
usually playing a bad guy, save in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet where he seemed to be playing "dad" to the younger ones.

 

[Norkie]

I used to love the tag teams, the royal brothers for one.
And not forgetting Pat ( bomber) Roach who took to acting,
usually playing a bad guy, save in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet where he seemed to be playing "dad" to the younger ones.

Pat Roach was also in a James Bond film with Sean Connery.

 

[Cobra]

Pat Roach was also in a James Bond film with Sean Connery.

And Indiana Jones as the huge ( 6'5") German that "Walked" in to the propellers.

 

[JohnC6]

It has nothing to do with our food standards, or our treatment of animals (which I must point out is a lot better than what I have witnessed in France).

Industry calls for UK-wide ‘Not for EU’ label plans to be scrapped

An FDF survey found eight in 10 of the country's biggest suppliers opposed a UK-wide approach to the post-Brexit requirements

www.thegrocer.co.uk

I wasn't able to read your link.."The Grocer," unless I registered and I didn't want to do that just to read one article but I'm aware of all the problems re trade going from GB into NI and EU concern that they may end up going over the border into Ireland..ie an EU country. It's what the Windsor Framework is all about and very timely, re our posts, a way forward has been agreed with NI with generous concessions by the EU. Now Stormont will sit again, after two years suspension, caused by the DUP digging its heels in on the issue. Some say there was more to it than that but it's not relevant to this labelling issue.Those "Not for EU" labels have actually been in existence since last October allowing all meat and some dairy to go through a 'green lane" into NI but what's caused the problem is that from October 2024, all meat and dairy products sold across the U.K will also have to have those labels to ensure food sold in GB can also be sold into Northern Ireland and the labelling will be applied to even more products from July 2025. So..some food retailers have jumped the gun,in readiness, and put the "Not for EU" labels on their products which has caused issues for consumers. Industries are up in arms about it. See "The Grocer" link below.

The other point is that you've said that animal welfare has nothing to do with it. No, it hasn't and I didn't say it had. Bear in mind my post was refuting Nod's assertion that the women who thought she was buying substandard food was stupid..he said..quote.."Says more about her stupidity than the silly legislation !" which, I see, you and of all people, ancient_mariner gave a 'like'. I can tell you that she's not alone in her belief. Shoppers across the country have had the same thoughts, not only shoppers but..The Grocer".....again.

Dated February last year.

Food safety at ‘huge risk’ as EU laws set to expire

Food safety laws carried over from the EU are set to be scrapped on 31 December under post-Brexit legislation

www.thegrocer.co.uk

The headline:

"Food safety at 'huge risk' as EU laws set to expire'.

So..in that lady's defence, to that assertion of stupidity, by Nod, I was pointing out that the reason for her suspicion was the lack of trust people have in this government about upholding EU standards, in many areas, post Brexit and with that headline in the The Grocer being a good example. Another was re export of live animals..livestock.. because,as I said they, initially, renaged on a promise to ban live animal welfare re exports.They cannot be trusted to keep their word. That was the point I was making. As I said in my first post,they've been forced to do a U-turn on that. England and Wales are the first countries to do it as far as I know and yes, I agree with you, the EU has issues with this . I do wonder if they can't introduce more humane conditions and banning live exports for the likes of sheep,pigs etc because the farmers' lobby in France is so powerful, as we see on our TV news bulletins now and then. Infact,.they're currently blocking streets in Paris with their tractors. There's a simialar scenario re employment rights and working conditions.

The government also said that keep EU employment legislation.

Government rejects report it will lower workers' rights post-Brexit

Business secretary has denied claims EU-based employment laws such as 48-hour week will be axed

www.theguardian.com

From the article: "The government has rejected a report that following Brexit it plans to tear up employment protections based in EU law – a strategy that Labour has called “a disgrace”.
Proposals include an end to the 48-hour maximum working week, changes to rules about breaks at work, and removing overtime pay when calculating certain holiday pay entitlements.
Another proposal would be to get rid of the current requirement for businesses to log information about daily working hours, to save on administration costs.

That's the context of the examples I gave. Mistrust in government pledges.

 

[ancient_mariner]

ancient_mariner gave a 'like'.

The laws haven't changed yet.

If she's worried, there are some election coming up soon, and I'm sure ears can be bent.

 

[Cobra]

I don't want to move this to hot topics. Enough politics enough brexit thanks

 

[Pixbarmy]

My first wage was six pounds, ten shillings and "they" took six shillings and eightpence off in "stoppages"! That was enough to buy a 45rpm record, which you listened to in a "booth" at W.H.Smith's before you decided to buy it!

 

[Steep]

My wife likes it but I don't. For me it's not a very pleasant taste, no doubt caused by tahini..(roasted sesame seed) which has a nutty taste..Squirrels would like. it, I'm sure

I use Tahini in place of peanut butter, it's healthier

 

[Cobra]

I used to make £1 a time plus the occasional tips, working for a mobile butcher after school and Saturdays.

 

[Cobra]

Tahini

I've not heard of it, and is there really a substitute for peanut butter ( and cheese sarnies)?