Don’t Pre-judge the Pre-cut!
We all are a prone to choosing convenience foods, myself included. In today’s society we are more likely to pick up these items to save time and make it easier in the kitchen. Whether you have a family to feed or are working longer hours (or both!) then pre-prepared food will be more enticing during the dreaded weekly shop.
Over packaging needs to go
However, last week an article was published on Huffington Post titled: M&S Pulls ‘Cauliflower Steak’: Other Supermarkets Also Sell Over-Packaged Vegetables which shames supermarkets for their unneeded plastic packaging. This started when a customer went to twitter to share her concerns about the product. After gaining a large following the ‘Cauliflower Steak’ has now been removed from M&S shelves.
But why is this bad? Cutting down on the use of unneeded plastic will benefit the planet and follows Theresa May’s long- term plastic ban in the process. Like tweet above illustrates, why buy sliced cauliflower when you can buy a whole one for a fraction of the price?
Reducing this kind of waste will minimise pressure on landfill and prevent any further harm to the ocean. In the past, attempts have been made to reduce the use of plastic carrier bags by issuing a charge of 5p back in 2015. When looking at the results of this it has been highly successful and more people now opt for reusable bags.
Pre-chopped meaning you’re lazy
Instead of just changing the packaging of these products, supermarkets are set to continue removing items which may be classed as ‘convenient fruit and veg’. It is quite easy to just label people as ‘lazy’ if they resort to buying these products- with many people across the internet expressing this opinion.
I am willing to stand up and say I use pre- cut fruit and veg, this does not mean I am lazy.
Just like the other 13. 3 million people in the UK, I have a disability. As a result, it can affect how well I am able to prepare food. Other people like Shona Louise have chosen to speak up about how it will affect the disabled community. I am fortunate to have help when preparing meals, meaning any chopping can be done for me. Yet if I was independently preparing meals then pre- cut food is often a life- saver, not just a time- saver.
In the grand scheme of things, disabled people just want equal opportunities and independence. With today’s society supporting this more in recent years, it is a real shame when barriers like this appear. I understand that connivence food like this was not solely created for the disabled and ageing community. However, it has made a big change to accessibility.
I want to be able to cook meals for myself. I want these meals to be healthy with fruit and vegetables in, not just relying on ready meals and oven foods. I know that these kinds of food are more expensive, it’s not like I want to be spending more money on the food that I eat. Would you want to take this away from so many people who rely on it daily?
Plastic straws…
Aside from pre- packaged foods, plastic straws are also taking a hit. Campaigns have started to completely ban the product in Scotland and the influence is coming to the UK quickly. Again, many disabled people will use straws to help them have a drink. It is far easier to drink from a straw if it is hard to lift heavier glasses or if you have issues with your mouth or swallowing. It can also prevent drinks from been spilt down yourself.
Again, can’t there be some sort of middle ground? These products may not hold a lot of purpose for many people, but are part of everyday adaptions for others. Even if this adaption is so we can drink cocktails. We do not set out to ruin the planet! Why not have less straws? Or put straws behind the bar so customers have to ask for one rather than just being readily available.
When you next think that people are lazy for resorting to pre- made food, please think about the bigger picture. Please do not just ban the products altogether, resulting in a lack of accessibility. It is time we look at alternative ways of packaging so that these products can remain on the market for those who rely on them.
~ Chloe x
