In the last of the Evening Post’s food champion series, Charlotte Wareing talks to ethical leaders about celebrating the food you eat.
“celebrate your food...”
That’s the call from ethical food leaders in the wake of various scandals about what is on our plates.
From butchers tracing their meat to consumers cutting down their food waste, we all have a part to play.
Dan Crossley, executive director of independent charity the Food Ethics Council, says the secret to a healthier attitude towards food comes from changing how we view it.
He said: “The horse meat scandal has been a major topic and has highlighted lots of problems in the food system.
“It also means that people are starting to ask questions about their food, which I think is healthy.
“Consumers need to realise that they make an impact every time they buy something – where they choose to shop, the sorts of products they are buying.
“Every decision they make doesn’t just have an impact on their pocket, but on the planet.
“We would encourage people to think more carefully about where they shop and what they buy.
“Planning what they buy is important.
“Food waste is a massive issue, even during the recession.
“Just by doing stuff like having a shopping list and sticking to it, and planning to shop in those shops you trust you can make a difference.
“People can interpret that in different ways. But don’t be afraid to ask questions of your butchers.
“If they can’t answer, then that should tell you something.”
The council is involved in helping businesses with advice, working with Government to form policy and chatting to farmers about what they want.
Mr Crossley says he hopes recent scandals will mean a long-term shift in how people view food.
He added: “There is a risk that this is a short term blip whilst there is so much attention on the subject.
“On the flip side there are more and more things coming out every day.
“People are starting to realise how important this is.
“Food had slipped down the agenda and it is starting to creep back up again.
“We hope that now people will start asking where their food is coming from.
“I would ask people to start celebrating food more and doing things like holding communal events. Food culture is really important.”
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