Celebrity Chefs Changing Britain's Eating Habits
The Rise of the Campaign for Organic Food
May 13, 2009
Gordon Ramsay, Delia Smith, Nigella Lawson, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - the list is endless. They all have their own methods of preparing and presenting food but one thing they have in common is the belief that fresh, seasonal ingredients which can be directly traced to source are vital not only to good health but to raising the nation's awareness of what good food is.But when exactly did Britain become so blasé about food to the extent that it has needed innumerable hours of TV shows, column inches in the national press and even Government campaigns to encourage everyone to reach for wholefoods and relinquish that love affair with cheap, processed food?
Britain's Unhealthy Eating Habits
When did children start to think that milk comes from Tesco? Why are so many people squeamish at the thought of eating offal yet cookery books from the 1950s have recipes for boiling sheep heads? How did it become possible that chicken tikka flavoured lasagne or steak and onion flavoured crisps would be marketed as yet another flavour combination rather than being seen as a crime against any well-formed taste bud?
There is no simple answer to this question. Many forces have combined over the years to reduce the British relationship with food to an equation where speed, cheapness and ease of access = good. In the quest for instant gratification, quality and skill have been replaced with whatever can be chewed and swallowed the fastest with the minimum of inconvenience.
Has the Economic Downturn Changed Britain's Shopping Habits?Perhaps the relentless industrialisation of Britain is to blame for the collective decline into culinary lethargy. The decline in the numbers working in agriculture has been steep: in 1901, 12% of Brits worked in agriculture in comparison to 1% in 2006. This means, therefore, that less people than ever have direct contact with food production resulting in a sense of distance from its provenance.
Attitudes began to change with the rise of the celebrity chefs, the organic movement and an increasing consumer demand for ‘real’ food as a growing awareness of the state of the nation’s health took hold. Perhaps the recent credit crunch will change attitudes further with a move towards thrift, economy and a ‘spirit of the blitz’ as the recession continues to bite. According to some experts, the food sector will not be adversely affected by the down turn as comfort eating is seen by many as an affordable luxury. The question is though, will the ‘we’re worth it’ generation begin to embrace the concept of having a treat as cooking a wholesome meal using fresh, ethically sourced ingredients rather than reaching for a well-thumbed take-away menu?
Should There Be A New Bank Holiday in the UK?Perhaps what is needed to change habits is a grand gesture. An inducement rather than a slap on the wrist, a carrot instead of a stick. Not free gym passes for the obese or subdised fruit snacks in schools, although these are undeniable changes for the better, but an unmissable, all-encompassing, show-stopping gesture that will make the whole of the UK sit up and take notice.
Why not introduce a public (not bank, with all its dreary connotations) holiday with the express purpose of celebrating the bounty of the land? The USA and Canada have Thanksgiving, why should we not follow suit? The day would be given over to farmers’ markets, allotment open days, cookery demonstrations; the possibilities, if well-managed and informed by people who really care about ethical issues, are endless.
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