Stop this race to the bottom over farm standards
Thank you so much for your informative article ‘Jamie’s war on toxic US food’. You reported last week that charities and chefs including Jamie Oliver are urging Boris Johnson to protect us from a deal with the US that would lead to unhealthy foods containing illegal pesticides, growth hormones and high levels of antibiotics being imported. It’s no wonder America has an even worse cancer rate than us. Intensive US farming is bad for the environment, just when we’ve realised that our wildlife and insects are dying out and we need to look after their habitats. We must stop this race to the bottom.
A. Wills, Ruislip
The best way to let the US know we don’t want chlorinated chicken is to leave it on supermarket shelves. All these chickens must be clearly marked.
G. Allan, Peterborough
In demanding a ban on food which is chlorine-washed, insecticide-sprayed and treated with antibiotics, Jamie Oliver should be careful he doesn’t get what he wishes for. UK salad vegetables are chlorine-washed, our arable farmers use vast amounts of pesticides, and our fish farmers use antibiotics.
Roy Daniels, Luton
If the chefs, celebrities and charities are concerned about toxic foods and the health of our children, why aren’t they campaigning against white bread?
Mass-produced white bread is unhealthy, lacking in nutrients and contributes to obesity, heart disease and diabetes. We should put right our own food industry before worrying about imports.
David Hutton, Crewe
If US food is so toxic, why aren’t the world’s most advanced health research facilities making the same point? American food is both safe and tasty. The reality is that some people feel food should be more expensive by adopting costly multiple levels of control on food safety rather than by making sure animals are treated humanely, and that what leaves the preparation process is completely safe.
Corrine Graves, St Albans
The Save Our School Food Standards campaign, launched in 2012, called for academies and free schools to be required to comply with the same standards for food as in maintained schools.
We also wanted better food and food teaching for children in schools, and protection of children from junk-food marketing as well as clear food labelling that could be understood by everyone. This is such a worthwhile cause.
Demi Roberts, Llanbedr, North Wales
A trade deal with the US would set us back 30 years in standards and finish off our farmers. There is no upside.
Sarah Smith, Durham
In 18 months of working and living in Oklahoma eating food from supermarkets, my health did not suffer. These people just want the UK to buy expensive food.
C. Frederick, Basingstoke