September 28, 2005

No more meat slurry for you.

Foods to be banned in British schools:
  • Burgers and sausages from 'meat slurry' and 'mechanically recovered meat'
  • Sweets including chewing gum, liquorice, mints, fruit pastilles, toffees and marsh mallows
  • Chocolates and chocolate biscuits
  • Snacks such as crisps, tortilla chips, salted nuts, onion rings and rice crackers
I love the Britishisms like "crisps" and "pastilles." And I see they call the cafeteria the "canteen." Nice to make two words out of "marshmallows," so it seem like a hazard spot in the game of Candyland.

10 comments:

Ron said...

I also love 'clingfilm.' In sound alone, it's better than 'plastic wrap' or 'Saran wrap.'

Unknown said...

As an Englishman I remember my days in the school canteen. The food was always terrible - mushy peas and chips (that'd be fries to you) or sausage rolls where the pork is so pink it looks like a cartoon color. We eat alot of things like beans-on-toast (think baked beans without the brown sugar in them) or meat pies - orans aplenty. The food was always cheap though, and it can never be a bad thing when you can get gravy every day of the week. And I'd kill for a curry at lunch now.

One thing that British schools do not do that many American ones do is have soda-pop machines or candy machines in them. You won't see that until you go to college or university. And certainly no competition for the canteen such as a Taco Bell or Burger King - the thought of that would horrify British people - and then nor at Uni either.

British cuisine has a poor reputation but I miss it dearly. At least we know how to make sausage - this polis/itlaian malarky is utter pish.

MT said...

I'd have thought the meat slurry would have disappeared from menus following the mad cow epidemic. Must be a virtuous slurry lacking spine and brain bits.

Unknown said...

Actually one of the finest moments in British politics occured during the early days of Mad Cow in Britain. In order to prove the safety of "British Beef" (hurrah!!) the Minister for Agriculture - one John Gummer - made his daughter eat a beef burger on national television.

It was just beautiful madness.

Mom said...

Have they banned Marmite in British schools yet? If not, they ought to. Brrr--nasty stuff.

Dust Bunny said...

The Marsh Mallow is an actual plant and the root is used to make the candy marshmallow. Now if the English would add some Graham Crakers and Hershey bars they could experience a true culinary delight....S'mores!

Jennifer said...

The Marsh Mallow is an actual plant and the root is used to make the candy marshmallow.

Is it really? How interesting! I always assumed marshmallows were just sugar spun to absurd levels.

vbspurs said...

As an Englishman I remember my days in the school canteen

Yay! I'm not the only Brit around these here parts.

I felt like I would be bombarded with cultural questions the moment I came to this thread.

Vic, what is a sultana! Vic, what is meat slurry! Vic, what is a doner!

Etc. Argh.

I find that Americans are unusually interested (even a little excited) to ask questions about British foodstuffs, and words in general.

Ah well. Better too much interest, than too little I say.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch the Champions League rematch of Chelsea v. Liverpool.

What'd I do with my alcopops?

Cheers,
Victoria

Unknown said...

Not to hijack but I am sat at home eating a pack of dark chocolate Hob Nobs, polishing off a few bottles of Kronenberg, and praying that Liverpool stuff them.

vbspurs said...

Not to hijack but I am sat at home eating a pack of dark chocolate Hob Nobs, polishing off a few bottles of Kronenberg,

Working-class yobbo.

and praying that Liverpool stuff them

That's more like it!

Even though neither side could hit a cow's arse with a banjo.

Cheers,
Victoria (Come on you Spurs)