By the time you’ve worried about food miles, animal welfare, chemicals in food and working conditions for the food producers, it’s difficult to know what’s left that you can safely eat.  To help you work  out how to spend the house-keeping money, here are some websites and books  - some of which may tell you things you would rather not know….

www.defra.gov/farm/organic.  the government’s voice on organic food, how it is defined, how you can know its genuinely organic.

www.foodforlife.org.uk    Ideas on changing food in schools

www.soilassociation.org  Sets the standard for organic growers in the UK. Organises events such as Organic Fortnight 6 - 21 Septembr 2008.

www.RSPCA.org.UK .  Sponsors Freedom Food, a charity which promotes decent standards for farm animals resulting in, for instance, the Higher Welfare Chicken which will have had a much better life than a battery hen.  Watch out for Farm Animal Week is 22- 28 September 2008.

www.farmshop.uk  a website to help you find local food suppliers.

www.FWI.co.UK/gr/foodmiles/index.  Website of Farmers Weekly which includes clear explanation of foodmiles - and what we can do to keep them down.

www.food.gov.uk/safereating .  Covers government surveys on the levels of chemicals in food.

www.fairtrade.org.uk   Explains how products are approved and gives details of  the ever increasing range of fairly traded goods to help with the  guilt free shopping.

www.fishonline.org  Read up about the labelling and certification of the fish on  your plate courtesy of the Marine Conservation Society.

www.RiverCottage.net  Good advice on SEASONAL food.

www.FWI.co.uk/gr/foodmiles.  Farmers Weekly provides you with Food Mile Facts

www.food.gov.uk/safereating.  This government website will provide an insight into chemicals in food and other

Next a couple of books that really give the lowdown:  “Not on the Label by Felicity Lawrence and “Shopped” by Joanna Blythman.

And finally the brilliant report by Lady Caroline Cranbrook on “Food Webs” which shows what happens to the existing infrastructure of individual shops, local producers and their support systems, when a  supermarket enters the frame.  The report is available via www.cpre.org.uk/library/results/localfood ….

AND IF YOU ARE NOW IN THE MOOD TO BUY GOOD FOOD, PLEASE CHECK OUT THE INFORMATION UNDER YOUR LOCAL……SHOPS AND SUPPLIERS.