“Agreed David, in the real world though many folk don't have the time or are unable to go to farm shops. When I said checking the labels I meant reading between the lines. I know that prepared in the UK with a flippin great Union Jack does not necessarily mean it is British, simply that it has been packaged here. Many people probably don't realise that though.”

“You should never assume, Opinion8ed, as it general makes an "ass" out of "u" and "me"!!

The central point in all of this is Ms. Allison's attitude that ALL meat eaters are the cause of animal cruelty, that is utter tosh!!

There are many outlets locally to source meat from animals reared within the county and certainly within the country. No-one has to shop at supermarkets who have a bad habit and unenviable record of importing meat, repacking it in the UK and then put a 'Union Jack' sticker on the packaging thus purporting the contents come from within the United Kingdom.”

“Good for you Gavin, if only people gave a little more thought as to how and where their food is produced. We'll never be perfect but checking the labels is a good start..”

“yes cattle probably do eat imported foodstuffs, which is my point exactly, the veggies are no better in the context of inport / export / food miles than the meat eaters. And yes i should clarify that i keep my own chickens, producing my own eggs, if i were to buy eggs i would never lower myself so much as to buy caged hen eggs, and will only ever eat free range chicken and Brittish meat, usually locally produced from the farm shop where i live, I also eat more rabbit and pigeon which in turn leads to less intensive farming of traditional meats. I have links with several Animal Rights and welfare groups, am a huge chamipion of locally produced free range meet and organic veggies and would encourage everybody else to be a bit more so. I will never pander to Tesco's paying farmers less for their milk than it costs to produce and importing birds kept in disgusting conditions from tin pot countires for about 3 pence a piece. There are plenty of farmers in this country producing enough food to never need to import from abroad, and as far as veggies go, eating seasonally means that different veggies become a treat at certain times in the year rather than growing board of those orange sticks people call Carrotts imported full of pesticides from the opposite end of the earth. Rant over.”

“I shall assume the authors of the comments always insist their meat is British. A great deal of bacon is 'foreign', not to mention cheap chickens from Thailand. I am a veggie who is pro free range meat and high welfare standards. I simply don't enjoy eating meat. That is my choice. However, I blame no-one for taking up cudgels when it comes to decent treatment of the creatures before and indeed during slaughter.

PS re imported food, don't cattle eat imported soya?”

“Very well written letter Daphne! Couldnt agree with the points you have made anymore. I wonder how many food miles Ms Allison's rice and lentils covered, and would love to see the size of her hefty 'supposedly green' carbon footprint. I could argue my points untill the earth collapsed into a black hole, but its not worth the breath when dealing with a Dictator who clearly has no knowledge of the farming industry, the consequence of food miles and the living standards of farm animals. Perhaps Ms Allison should do a little more reaearch and she might eventually discover that her lifestyle is fatally flawed.”

“Well said, Daphne, although I fear your final letter on the subject will not be repeated by Ms. Allison who, I have no doubt, continue to berate meat eaters until her dying day.

She should understand we live in a democracy and individuals will decide on their chosen lifestyle rather than the totalitarian behaviour she would like us all to adopt when it comes to eating.”