Not sure this lower standard foodstuffs is quite right SBD. My view is if it’s safe for the consumer it should be their call. Ill use the well used example of chlorinated chicken. If it is available and clearly marked by supermarkets but is cheaper, why shouldn’t someone on a lower budget be able buy it ?
As far as I am aware chlorinated chicken has never had any proven health risks associated with it. Even the European Food Safety Association confirmed it is safe to eat. The EUs argument is that it MAY mean farmers cut corners earlier in the farming/slaughter process. I presume that mean they MAY also have excellent hygiene standards and yet still chlorinate it for extra safety. Who knows.
Not quite my cup of tea but nor are dirt cheap sausages that have various offcuts and shit (not literally....hopefully !) piled in that would probably make your/my stomach turn.
It’s like anything with free market trading though. It’s weighing up the benefits and risks for both the suppliers and the consumers.
Ps also, I’d be shocked, especially operating in such a competitive space, if major supermarkets would buy produce in without understanding/knowing the suppliers hygiene standards. They could literally be slaughtered (sorry, couldn’t resist....it’s bank holiday afterall !!!) by their competition if anything untoward was uncovered.
I wasn't just talking about chlorinated chicken (I believe the EU allow chlorine washes of vegetables) and we do have some poor quality processed food out there.
In general US foods seem to have more additives, preservatives, salt etc. Our food producers would almost be forced into following this route in order to be competitive and food quality will go down, and thus all the health problems associated with it.
In the UK with an NHS the government should, in theory, care about food safety and quality a great deal more because it costs them to treat food poisoning and long term health problems from poor diet. In a US system that is private insurance led (even with the ACA) it's less of a concern for them. A real cynic would say it's an economic opportunity on two fronts - the food and the healthcare.
On the other hand you can argue all the poor quality cuts of meat etc, as long as they're not dangerous, are reducing wastage and thus the number of animals needing to be reared. This reduces farmland needed for pasture and growing animal feed and the climate change effect from all that whilst allowing people on a tight budget to feed their families? Turkey twizzler anyone?