I may have sounded a bit 'holier than thou' above. I know it can be difficult making the effort and meeting the expense of ethical shopping, but I live a hectic, busy life and don't earn a huge amount. I am, of course, single, so am only shopping for me, which makes it significantly easier and cheaper than shopping for a family. I am also fortunate in that I actually enjoy cooking.

Part of the problem is we have not only become accustomed to cheap food, but have grown unaccustomed to eating the really cheap stuff. A sheep's head will feed a family of four for several days; tripe, liver, hearts, kidneys, brains, belly of pork, scrag end of lamb, a bit of boiling bacon. If you are really thrifty you can eat humanely reared British meat very cheaply. most people simply don't care enough, and would rather buy battery reared skinless chicken breasts in polystyrene trays, just as they'd rather shell out for pre-prepared frozen chips and veg rather than make the effort of buying fresh spuds and veg and preparing them themselves.

If you really can't get to an independent greengrocer or butcher, at least make sure you only buy seasonal British produce from the supermarket. English Purple Sprouting Broccoli is just coming into season; it is wonderful, nothing like the ordinary broccoli most of us are used to. Look for it at your local supermarket and if it isn't there, ask to speak to the manager and find out why.

On the F&M front, just as you though it couldn't get any worse....