Food - the real truth?

Question

Does anyone know of any good websites which tell us exactly what goes into processed foods such as chicken burgers, hot dogs, ready meals etc

Answer 1

I cannot give you any web sites re additives etc in fast foods, but I can give you a bit of help re these tasty snacks.

Some firms will use what is known as "mechanically-recovered meat" . This is essentially bits of meat recovered from the bone, pulped and reformed into sliced ham, chicken nuggets etc. Legislation in the UK is very strict on this matter, so I eat sandwich ham and hot dogs without any worries. I am more worried about the amount of salt that is added to these meats, that the actual process involved in creating them.

I cannot comment adversely on individual brands, as I would be risking libel. I can say, however, that I use the products of Pukka Pies, Princes, Ye Olde Oak and Fray Bentos, along with Walls and Richmond, and everything from Brakes Bros, without concern.

The best way to assess the quality of convenience foods is to make your own, and then see how it compares in terms of taste, texture and economy, with commercially supplied packeted food. I suggest that you buy your meat from a local independent butcher - he will mince beef, chicken, lamb or pork as you require. If you are making hamburgers, flavour them with a little salt, and with spices of your choice (I use ground black pepper and cumin). Leave breadcrumbs out, and bind your burger with a little yoghurt or cheese, rather than eggs. Use a ridged pan to hob-grill them, rather than frying them or placing them under a salamander (broiler), or using a BBQ.You will get oodles of recipes off the Web.

As far as the food from the High Street take-aways is concerned, I would only buy mine from the local fish and chip shops. I have yet to taste a decent burger from the big chains - in fact the product bears little resemblance to the original - to wit, the Hamburger, which, in its German form (from which country the dish originated), cannot be bettered.

By the way, I write from the point of view of a chef.

Answer 2

You know, if you're worried about what goes into processed food, there's an easy solution: cook your own. That's what I've been doing all my life, and my mother before me, too.

Answer 3

This would be very difficult because there are many different manufacturers and they all have different processes. Processed food is really kind of gross though when you think about it.

Answer 4

http://www.mercola.com/2005/aug/23/is_processed_food_really.htm

Answer 5

see below