Vocal Voices

Arrived today, I thought this was interesting, since I'd rather assumed it was all supermarkets.

"Dear Customer,

Recent events have raised significant questions about the authenticity of beef on sale in the UK.

As a valued customer I wanted to reassure you that, following a programme of around 250 tests in line with Food Standards Agency guidance, no horsemeat has been found in any of our products.

As you would rightly expect, we have one of the most extensive quality control programmes in the industry and we apply the same checks right across our products - from basics to Taste the Difference. We have used DNA testing for over a decade, as well as checks on country of origin, audits of suppliers and accredited, independent product analysis.

This is not just about our quality control measures. Our entire supply chain, from farm to store, is built around long-term sustainable relationships to offer you the best quality products at fair prices - the bedrock of the trust we know you place in us. We work closely with over 2,500 farmers who are part of Sainsbury's dedicated Farmer Development Groups and have invested over £40 million in developing these relationships, as part of our commitment to double our sales of British food by 2020.

As a responsible retailer we are playing our part in the wider industry discussions and we will not be complacent. We will continue to test our products to our own high standards, as well as participating fully in the Food Standards Agency's work to ensure the integrity of Britain's food."

Well, if you are in the same market and you are doing your job properly, it pays to advertise the fact.

I notice little was said about McDonalds in all this. McD's have taken a lot of bad press over the years for their Brazilian beef herds and the damage done to the rainforest to sustain them. However when they are NOT tainted by the horsemeat scandal because they don't just audit their beef suppliers, but actually own them and manage them, nothing is said as a +.

Funny world.

It's always been known that cheap "value" budget foods contain things you really would rather not think about. When this kind of pressure is put on supply chains to deliver to aggressive contracts and for the life of a long contract, suppliers go to extreme lengths to fulfil them.

Really, food is not this cheap and the prices of food, world wide, are rising, not falling.

Suff wrote:It's always been known that cheap "value" budget foods contain things you really would rather not think about. When this kind of pressure is put on supply chains to deliver to aggressive contracts and for the life of a long contract, suppliers go to extreme lengths to fulfil them.

A very good point. Supermarkets are always squeezing their suppliers; they always want the most product for the least amount of money.
So, as a supplier to the supermarkets, when you can buy a dead horse for £30 as opposed to a dead cow for £600...

Well as a regular Sainsbury's customer, I'm very pleased to hear this

I got the email too Di, just checked my inbox

As I said earlier I had a similar e-mail from Waitrogues where I have used a debit card. Can they really get my address from that? Have not heard from any others though.

Pederito I have a nectar card so they have my address.
They can't get your address fro a debit card no, maybe you have at some time had a loyalty card or something?

I also have a Nectar card Pederito, and have used their home delivery service in the past so that's how they have mine - like Di said there is no way they would have got your address from a debit card, it must be from some other source like a loyalty card or perhaps you have used their delivery service.......?

Thanks Di and Kaz. I dont really mind them having it, just a bit curious. I have now found out that they belong to John Lewis and I did buy something on line from them once. Must be a bit hard up as my dealings have been minimal.

Ah, that will be it then