The Independent has an article about people committing food fraud--making meals using
ready-made packages and passing it off as their own creation. They say that 40% of young women have done this, as
compared to only 22% of young men. The survey strikes a chord with the older generations--are the younger generations
simply incompetent in life skills? Should home economics be reinstated to teach these essentials?
I don't know anyone who has ever tried to commit food fraud--in fact, I feel that cooking is actually making a comeback amongst the young people in the US. But perhaps I'm hanging out with a skewed crowd. What do you think? Is the next generation simply an instant meal kind of crowd?

Broke Stars: 11 Celebrities Who Went Bankrupt
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
Social Security Is Failing Even Faster Than We Thought
Man Says Starbucks Discriminated Against Him Because He Has Half An Arm
Chris Brown, Grammys 2012: Embattled Singer Slams Critics
Ford's clever Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ad features phantom model
3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die
Trace Adkins Reunites With College Crush, 30 Years Later
Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)
'Hooker Teacher' Forced To Resign, Now Can't Find Work
Lauren Scruggs Goes On Ski Vacation












3-27-2008 @9:04AM ish221100 said... Auto Skinz Online specializes in easy to apply premade auto graphic kits. Hundreds of designs to choose from. If you want that custom without the expensive custom pricing then Auto Skinz Online is for you. We use a high quality vinyl with a high quality over-laminate that is extremely easy to apply. Shop now and save 30% on our most popular designs. http://www.autoskinzonline.com
Reply
1-09-2006 @3:48PM sam said... food fraud has been around along time in the UK, Marks & Spencer Food Hall is to blame.I don't think there are any comparable places making accessible ready made meals of good enough quality in the US so it would be less easy to get away with it.
I am a female who wouldn't DREAM of committing food fraud. The oposite in fact. I make every little part of the meal I can.
it's a matter of pride.
(sometimes i buy ready-made puff pastry though - but that's IT)
Reply
1-09-2006 @3:56PM Fahara said... Coincidentally enough, I heard something about this topic on the local radio first thing this morning. The female DJ thought food fraud of this type was despicable, the male DJ thought heating something in a microwave counted as 'cooking' it and that it therefore wasnt lying.....
Reply
1-09-2006 @4:31PM Lia said... I think I might be considered a female of "the next generation" as a 20 year old. Would I commit food fraud? Nope. Heck, tonight I'm roasting a whole chicken. My other less culinarily inclined friends? Nope again. While I know plenty of people to get frozen or premade food for a party or something, I never hear them claiming it's their own.
Reply
1-09-2006 @4:56PM kitchenmage said... What does it say about me that my most likely food fraud is in the other direction? I am more prone to minimize the actual amount of work that went into something with a comment like, "it was in the freezer" when, in fact, it's only in the freezer because i spent a few hours creating it and putting it there.
Case in point: I always have homemade bread and rolls on hand, I often take them to friends, I seldom act like they took more than the five minutes it took to find them in the freezer to create. Is this as bad as the 'fraud' that goes in the other direction? (it sure tastes better)
Reply
1-09-2006 @5:19PM sarah said... "I don't know anyone who has ever tried to commit food fraud"
i do.
her name is sandra lee.
Reply
1-09-2006 @5:46PM sam said... ha ha - sandra lee! YES
And as for they guys - maybe the male dj has a point
maybe guys that age dont cook that much
and maybe they tell more lies
who knows?
in the UK - really you dont need to cook so much if you dont want to because the standard of the 'ready meals' is so so high. You really wouldnt believe the gaping chasm of difference bween the States and the UK in that area. You would be incredulous.
Reply
1-10-2006 @1:52AM Berkana said... Most guys can't get away with it because the pre-prepared food is too good to pass off as their own. Also, most guys probably don't have pride issues with not being able to cook, whereas women are expected to have cooking skills.
Reply
1-10-2006 @6:05AM Ming said... Yeah food fraud is sad, I had a long comment I typed up but my browser ate it.
I don't appreciate the last sexist comment. Guys have pride in their cooking too, it just might not be apparent because of stereotyped gender roles. But if you doubt me, just look at Culinary School.
Reply
1-10-2006 @11:47AM suburban misfit said... I'd never do it, but I'm sure I know people who would.
I have to disagree, though, with the UK commenters about the quality of prepared foods here in the US. I'm sure there are still areas (rural, no doubt) where getting a really good meal from a grocery store or some similar place is a joke, but there are several places I could go here in my city that make really great food, and they're all really close. My local grocery store has a sushi bar and the sushi is quite good, and I don't even live on one of the coasts.
Reply
1-10-2006 @5:29PM kitchenmage said... Suburban misfit, I live in what I call evenTinierTown on the left coast of the US and I'd have to drive an hour (one way) to get to a decent-sized town...and even that place (50k population, on the I-5 corridor) has nothing in the groceries that I'd bring home, let alone claim as mine. Sushi would take a restaurant and I've not heard of a good place there. I could go on, but you get the idea. If you want good food out here, you cook or eat at the house of someone who can.
Reply