British supermarkets, which have been allowed by politicians to dominate Britain's retail market, serve the most bland "plastic-wrapped" food. Readers should go to any French, Belgian, Dutch or German town to see the vibrant local markets which are always well-attended by people of all ages and social classes, and laden with exciting fresh vegatables, breads, cakes, cheese and just about everything else one would wish to buy. Oh yes, and about a third less in price than our so-called "value-for-money" supermarkets.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

Having seen successive governments (across the world) ignore their primary agriculture economies - it is good to hear words. However remember if you eat your words you do not get much nourishment.

A little action from the politicians & and a little more regulation of the food chain - specifically grocery markets.

Richard, Bucharest, Romania

Firstly, British beef is the safest in the world - no where else is it monitored so vigorously. We have become far too used to supermarket prices where prices are kept artificially low by unethical buying practices, hence the true price of food can come as a shock when the farmer asks for it in return for their quality produce.

The government needs to put its money where its mouth is, lead the way and invest in British food as standard. Otherwise their policies are pure hypocrisy. The EU regulations are easily 'got round' and there is no excuse to not buy British food. Britain has the highest standards in the world when it comes to food production and we should be proud to eat it and reject unsustainable, lower quality imports.

Not a farmer, London, UK

To my fellow American who complain about British food - all I can say is your tastebuds must have been damaged at Mcdonalds. I've never eaten food better than when in England or Wales.

If the British government is serious about being green than it should be buying locally.

Linda, New York City, USA

Is Mr Benn on an airmiles scheme for ths food imported?

Jay, Thatcham,

Continuity of supply shouldn't be issue, try seasonal recipes we managed for several centuries before importing. We've lost touch of food and where it comes from!
British Beef not safe - me thinks you eaten too much South Amercian Beef my friend!!! Come on catch up!
British Food AWFUL!!! Depends on how you cook it - Welsh Lamb is the best in the world - British Beef is a highly valued export, We have more varities of cheese than France, we have some fantastic fruit and veg - our apple and pear heritage is something to be celebrated. Yes disease outbreaks are not helpful but if you shop local, know the products and the producers and I think you may enjoy your food at bit more.

Tim Ashley, Oswestry, Shropshire, Britain

I'm all for supporting local farmers--I even know some of them!
Of course you should support your country, by buying goods grown there.

Unfortunately, some of us aren't able to buy local, as it's much more expensive than just buying a tin of veg or some cheap meat from heaven-knows-where...bottom line is, for some of us--buy what's cheapest, or literally do not eat.

I also enjoy food from other countries--including the UK...of course, I'm less able to afford imports. Good food is good food, no matter where it comes from.

On a similar note--how is the food issue, any different than that of manufactured goods? How many jobs have been lost to places like China, India, Pakistan and Mexico? How many of you reading this, buy only British, or only American goods? How is supporting countries that took away jobs from us, helping our nations? Think about that, for a moment.

nancy, glens falls NY, USA

Is there really any reason why the food should be British? It is against EU tendering rules. The government should buy from the cheapest provider for given quality. Otherwise we, the taxpayers, will pay the difference.

Paula, London,

If you travel to almost any country in Europe or the developed world. Most if not all people and restaurants eat, serve and promote home grown food. It seems as if we have made great strides to improve the situation in the UK with farmers markets and TV chefs promoting local food. However this is typical of government who it seems only care what happens within the confines of the M25. I bet Prime Minister Sarkozy does not sit down to eat Welsh Lamb or British Beef!

Dan Collinson, Preston, Lancs

If Peter Bracknell were to study the facts, he would find that "cheap " food is a myth. The search for it is believed to have given us BSE. It has given us intensive factory farming, necessitating the prophylactic use of antibiotics, which in turn has given us superbugs such as MRSA which are resistant to vital antibiotics, so NHS costs go up and patients die. If only more consumers would realize that when they buy the cheapest animal products on sale, they are being subsidized by the suffering of defenceless sentient beings. Eat less meat and waste less meat, and pay a fair price for it. Fair to the animals and fair to the farmers, many of whom are now going out of business because they are paid prices below the reasonable cost of production. Much of this "cheap" food is imported and is from animals reared under conditions that are illegal in this country. Myself, if I could not find animals products with reliable welfare certification, eg Soil Assoc., I would be vegan.

Joyce Smith, Witney, Oxon, UK

Tony..
Living in cornwall you should know that the best fruit and veg is not bought in tescos but from farm shops or the stalls on the side of the road, then you are buying truly fresh local produce which most of the time is also organic

Ben Russell, Keila (previously the lizard), Estonia

Tea, coffee, rice, citrus fruit etc... it is not possible to purchase all food locally. Let us keep things in perspective.

Michael Lavender, Worthing, West Sussex

While I disagree with Mr. Bell in regards to British cuisine, I also disagree with Mr. Leslie criticising American cuisine. That's funny coming from someone whose homeland thought it would be fun to deep fry a Mars bar. Fact of the matter is, both countries have their fair share of unhealthy eating habits. And, yes, the UK has imported many of those via McDonalds and other fast food chain giants. That's unfortunate, I agree. But there are also many local chip shops and other shops that serve fatty, unhealthy food. And fyi Chantel, we do have lovely parma ham and salamis and other treats from all over the world, readily available where I live.

Alicia, Powhatan, VA/USA

You get what you pay for. The government has promoted cheap food, but sadly cheap food does not keep our farmers in business. They are proud livestock rearers and produce growers who are constantly being let down by our supermarket buyers, food service buyers and public procurement buyers. The buyers have little interest in ensuring this world class industry, will be here tomorrow. Not surprisingly, not all farmers sit back and accept the situation. So learning to market their own produce, cooperating together to form marketing groups, adding value, and meeting high "farm assured" standards goes some way to improving their lot. Support British farmers and their produce; only buy food with the Red Tractor logo and ask where it is sourced from. Put pressure on the schools, hospitals, government, and supermarkets to change their sourcing policy to support our own farming industry. Once it's gone, it's gone.

Tonka, Harrogate,

Most readers would be the first in line to complain about government waste. Obviously prisons etc. are buying in food at the cheapest prices; its just a shame that cheap food is not British.

Peter, Bracknell, UK

Carlos Bell, Washington DC. Mutton??? haven't seen it for years. And as for the country that brought us McDonalds criticising our cuisine, well that takes the (Danish) bacon. That bit of the US beef sector that isn't riven by FMD is so stuffed full of anti-biotics, that it is unfit for human (other than American) consumption. And we can see, by the number of svelte Americans walking down the streets, how your consumption of fruit and vegetables is taken so seriously. I didn't realise that they contained so much fat!

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

I enjoy Cornish potatoes and Hereford strawberries from my local Tesco branch but a recent purchase of English apples revealed rotten and badly damaged ones so I am back on foreign ones. Wild Rocket appears to only come from Italy but most vegetables are local.
Insofar as meat is concerned I enjoy British beef but where the meat in ready meals most of us now consume comes from is a mystery.
Perhaps the government and NHS have also found similar failings and settle for overseas produce that appears to be in better condition.
Our producers do need to improve their quality standards and sort their wares properly instead of leaving poor quality items in their packs to spoil good ones or is there a touch of "It's only for the UK so it does not matter"!..

Tony Quirke, Laity, Helston, Cornwall

"the taste of British mountain lamb is denied to inmates in state prisons" - Why exactly should they receive British mountain lamb? They retracted their rights to good food when they infringed upon the rights of their victims!

As for Carlos L Bell: Remind me of all the lovely parma hams, salamis, etc you cannot get in the US because you lot don't trust your sense of taste and smell??

To James Rea, if you want to eat mass produced cheap food, go to Tesco... the taste will reflect the cost, as will the treatment of the animals.

Chantel, UK,

Britsh People ought to respect Britsh food!! "James Rea" what do you mean by 'Britsh Beef is probably still not safe'??? And as for Carlos L. Bell from Washington DC- Britsh mutton is absolutley gorgeous- much prefer that than some muck from one of americas "amazing" fast food outlets!!

Perhaps people who dont understand Britsh Rural Affairs ought to keep thier heads in the sand.

Jenna Kerby, South Molton, UK

Continuity of supply wouldn't be an issue then? Surely this is the fault of the British seasons! (But I blame the government anyway.)

Diane, Sutton,

One big problem is that British Beef is probably still not safe,and our farmers expect unreasonably high prices for their produce ,a visit to any farmers market will prove that..........

James Rea, Launceston, UK

Let's be honest British food or cuisine whatever you want to call it is AWFUL!!!!!!!!!,not trying to be rude first world country still eating mutton Come on they want better fruit,vegetables meat and poultry thaat your farmers offer and all kind of dieases occur in your agriculture sector like foot and mouth, blue tongue and avian flu. I feel sorry for your farm sector seems to be cursed.

Carlos L. Bell, WashingtonDC, USA