davieG Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 From the BBC Take an average café - and a random selection of clientele. Do they know where their toast, bacon and omelettes actually originate? A survey by the Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) organisation suggests many of us are unaware that our food is actually grown, bred or created on a British farm. For example, 22% of 1,073 adults questioned did not know bacon and sausages originate from farms. Other results showed that 35% did not know porridge comes from a British farm, 23% did not know that fact about bread, 22% were unsure where sausages and bacon began, 40% never thought that an cooking oil started life thanks to farms and 44% did not link farms and beer. But is the great British public really that ignorant about what life is like down on the farm? Back in our randomly selected café - La Crema in west London - its owner Salim Haddad, 47, is rushing about, serving the steady flow of customers with their morning diet of English breakfasts. Fast food nation These, naturally, contain bacon and sausages, and no doubt a bit of cooking oil was used in the process as well. When asked if he is surprised by the survey's results, Mr Haddad grins and says: "Not really". He estimates that "maybe 60%" of his customers would know the farm-based origins of produce. "People don't know what they have to eat. Kids in school don't know celery from a carrot," he said. "They only know chips, they haven't seen a potato. All they know is KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonald's. "Advertising could help. McDonald's pays millions for advertising, the government could spend a bit on putting adverts in school canteens to educate children." Amongst La Crema's customers is John Hogan, 38, a construction foreman who owns his own beef farm in Ireland. "A lot of children from the city haven't been out to a farm," he said. "Where are they going to see wheat or barley or pigs or sheep, living in an urban environment?" Mr Welch and Mr O'Reilly were well aware their bacon came from a pig Mr Hogan's comments were supported by the LEAF survey - 29% of the adults questioned, including 42% of 16 to 24-year-olds and 33% of those with children, had never visited a farm. Of those, 44% of Scots, 36% of Londoners and 32% of people from Manchester had never set foot in a farmyard. But 85% of people from the South West and 81% of East Anglians had made such a trip. In-convenience truth Sitting nearby, sporting a stripy hat and regulation overalls, were James O'Reilly, 52, and Peter Welch, 45, decorators who had just polished off their cooked breakfasts. People who do not know that bacon originates from a farm are "idiots", according to Mr O'Reilly, who "eats a lot of bacon". He said: "They must be very naïve, or just not interested. They're not bothered where food comes from so long as they can eat it." Mr Welch blames convenience food. "If it's not wrapped up in a bit of plastic then they don't want to know." Two tables down, nibbling on a pain au chocolat is Chec Chapman Pincher, a 21-year-old bar worker from Shepherd's Bush. She identifies packaging as a factor in people's ignorance as to their food's origins. "If you go to a supermarket to buy oats, you just see a box. But if you go to a health food shop you often see the oats themselves. Visuals are important." Patrick Pretorius visited farms as a child growing up in Hull Sitting opposite, sipping a giant mug of tea, is Patrick Pretorius, a 24-year-old musician from Hull. "When I was at primary school I was taken on trips to see how cheese is made and lambs being born. "I don't know if that's done down here but it's a good idea. Otherwise people like to be ignorant." But farm visits are not just the privilege of country folk, of course, as many city farms exist in the urban environment. Vauxhall City Farm has everything you would expect to find on a farm in the country - cows, pigs, sheep and lambs, although it does not slaughter its animals. Cow's that? Deputy farm manager Linda Hinds said there is a common lack of knowledge from those who pay a visit. "We have parents walking around whose children ask what certain animals are, but the adults don't know," she says. "Some parents see our piebald ponies, which are black and white, and think they're cows. "And during one school visit we handed round some ham sandwiches to the children. "Someone made a remark about the ham coming from pigs, and that horrified the children as they hadn't made the connection. "They were so upset that they refused to eat the sandwiches."
Webbo Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 I heard this on the radio today and I must say I don't believe it. A survey that makes farmers look important sponsored surprise surprise by the National Farmers Union. I heard some one once say if you see a survey saying that sage & onion stuffing make you attractive to the opposite sex you can bet your life it's sponsored by Paxo.
stez Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 I heard this on the radio today and I must say I don't believe it. A survey that makes farmers look important sponsored surprise surprise by the National Farmers Union.I heard some one once say if you see a survey saying that sage & onion stuffing make you attractive to the opposite sex you can bet your life it's sponsored by Paxo. there was a farmer on the radio earlier whining on about how kids knew nothing about farming, then went on to list some quite in depth stuff that only farmers really need know about.
Head Honcho Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 I seem to remember a few months back there being an article about kids not knowing that bacon and sausages comes from pigs!
stez Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 I seem to remember a few months back there being an article about kids not knowing that bacon and sausages comes from pigs! it doesn't take much to change that. mine knows where stuff comes from (obviously not all, because she's young and theres a lot to learn). hey kid, see this bacon yeah? it comes from a pig i also heard on the radio to day that when englad (or spurs) went on a trip to new zealand, someone told gazza there'd be no bacon there, he said 'what? theres no bacon? but what about all the sheep?'
stez Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 there was a farmer on the radio earlier whining on about how kids knew nothing about farming, then went on to list some quite in depth stuff that only farmers really need know about. my old man works for a print finishing firm, i wonder how many farmers know how a book is properly bound and finished? i drive a car, but i don't fully understand how they're put together, i understand the theory behind internal combustion but i couldn't tell you the burn rate of the fuel
lookwhaticando Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 I seem to remember a few months back there being an article about kids not knowing that bacon and sausages comes from pigs! Funny, I could have sworn they came from Lincolnshire.
Webbo Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 I've just questioned my youngest (aged 9) and she knew the answer to every one.
Head Honcho Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 it doesn't take much to change that. mine knows where stuff comes from (obviously not all, because she's young and theres a lot to learn).hey kid, see this bacon yeah? it comes from a pig i also heard on the radio to day that when englad (or spurs) went on a trip to new zealand, someone told gazza there'd be no bacon there, he said 'what? theres no bacon? but what about all the sheep?' Priceless
stez Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 Funny, I could have sworn they came from Lincolnshire. cumberland is where it's at re. sausages
lookwhaticando Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 cumberland is where it's at re. sausages Bring it!
cisono Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 I like those pictures. Were those the only 3 people who were aware of where their food comes from? PS: Did they get a prize or something?
Lillehamring Posted 8 June 2007 Posted 8 June 2007 yeah but it's funnier like this...... http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2006/al...-farmers-p1.php
Rincewind Posted 9 June 2007 Posted 9 June 2007 It's one of those things where the outcome is known from the start. The survey was carried out in Derby and Nottingham.
stez Posted 9 June 2007 Posted 9 June 2007 yeah but it's funnier like this......http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2006/al...-farmers-p1.php i always thought feeding beefburgers to swans was a good idea
Guest Posted 9 June 2007 Posted 9 June 2007 I heard this on the radio today and I must say I don't believe it. A survey that makes farmers look important sponsored surprise surprise by the National Farmers Union.I heard some one once say if you see a survey saying that sage & onion stuffing make you attractive to the opposite sex you can bet your life it's sponsored by Paxo. The cynic in me agrees with you, however the other cynic in me wouldn't be surprised at all if it was a genuine survey with genuine answers, without the need for propaganda.
AoWW Posted 9 June 2007 Posted 9 June 2007 The cynic in me agrees with you, however the other cynic in me wouldn't be surprised at all if it was a genuine survey with genuine answers, without the need for propaganda. Blimey, how many cynics have you got in there?!
Guest Posted 10 June 2007 Posted 10 June 2007 Blimey, how many cynics have you got in there?! It's all these multiple personalities.
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