UK-Blog- LONDON

UK-Blog

I arrived at Heathrow, and waited 4 hours for the group from Michigan State to arrive as there flight was delayed. Once we all met up, we took a bus into London. Our hotel is really lovely because it is easily accessible to the underground and looks out over a large city park with 300 year old trees. London is a fast paced city much like NYC however the noticeable difference is that the numerous pubs are filled with people just off work. They are also filled throughout the day with people having meetings or just relaxing. The culture includes a form of social alcoholism.

I toured the city by foot, seeing many rich historical sites, like mass at Notradam, and the London Tower. I found a landmark place called The Anchor for fish and chips, visited Chinatown, and experienced Borough Market a fascinating place for produce, prepared food, raw meats and fish, flowers, chocolate, smoothies and Chai tea. Interestingly, a market has been in the same location since the time of the Roman's occupation.

During our classroom time, we were given a background on the governmental structure of the EU and the UK. A London professor and expert on the BRC or the British Retail Consortium gave us a solid understanding of Private Standards. Which is a non-governmental regulation that provides increased consumer confidence and quality assurance by making food manufactures and producers meet higher regulations then what is set forth by Codex Alimentarous (food laws). The issue with these standards is that because they are indeed private and non mandatory, yet are being used by all of the top food stores (UK) they tend to exclude many producers who can not pay to update their methods to meet these ever changing standards that effectively prohibit trade. As the rest of the world, especially the USA implements the use of these standards it will have to be decided if article 13 of the SPS (Sanitary & Phytosanitary) agreement under WTO (World Trade Organization) will be legally clarified to make the actions of private companies included in the Trade regulations which will ensure developing nations stop losing a large market share due to these higher then governmental standards. I mean food should be safe if it is offered for consumption to the public but in the UK citizens has lost faith in the governments ability to protect the people with scares like dioxins and BSE or what is more widely known as mad cow diseases.

I really have enjoyed my time in London, we share an almost common language, the people are friendly, I always felt safe, and the food is mostly inexpensive, that is if one were to work in the UK for the pound. The exchange rate wasn't great but they have great supermarkets with lots of ready to eat foods all without
GMO's or High Fructose Corn Syrup in the products. Most food just uses sugar - simple good old sugar and what a relief to have labels that actually properly inform the consumer!