Lists

KEY:
P = Pesticide residue concerns
H = Health concerns
E = Environmental concerns
A = Animal welfare concerns
U = Unfair trade/workers’ conditions concerns
O = Over-processed/too many additives concerns
£= Pricey
C = Attractively cheap

 

Green List

These are foods that you can be quite relaxed about eating. They don’t raise any overwhelming issues. Only low vigilance required when buying them.

 

Free-range eggs

Organic eggs (£)

Grass-fed beef

Lamb

Rabbit (C)

Goose (£)

Venison (£)

UK-reared veal (£)

Organic/free-range chicken, duck, turkey and other poultry (£)

Organic/free-range pork (£)

Organic cow’s milk, cream, butter, natural yogurt, ice cream, cheese

Sheep’s, goat’s and buffalo’s milk and dairy products

Mussels (C)

Oysters (£)

Mackerel (C)

Herring (C)

Scallops (£)

Sprats (C)

Sardines (C)

MSC-certified fish, such as Alaskan wild salmon

Cold-water prawns

Crab

Lobster (£)

Venus and razor clams (C)

Less well-known white fish species (coley, rockfish, megrim, pouting) (E)

Wild sea trout

Nuts (£)

Nut butters

Seeds

Pulses (lentils, beans, etc) (C)

Extra virgin olive oils

Cold-pressed nut oils (£)

Cold-pressed seed oils (£)

Unrefined coconut oil

Duck and goose fat

Sea salt

Spices

Asparagus (UK-grown)

Aubergine

Broccoli

Cabbage (C)

Cauliflower

Brussels sprouts

Kale (C)

Cavalo nero (C)

Bok/pak choy (C)

Romanesco

Kohlrabi (C)

Radishes (C)

Chinese leaves (C)

Spring greens (C)

Carrots (C)

Turnips (C)

Parsnips

Jerusalem artichokes (C)

Celery (C)

Courgettes (UK-grown)

Marrow (C)

Onions (C)

Mushrooms (C)

Garlic

Leeks (C)

Potatoes (H) (C)

Shallots

Swiss chard

Tomatoes

Tomato paste (C)

Broad beans

UK- or EU-grown squash and pumpkin

UK-grown herbs

Organic fruits (£)

Oats (C)

Wholegrain rice

Quinoa

Millet

Rye

Spelt

Buckwheat

Kamut

Teff

Sourdough bread

Cocoa and dark chocolate (U)

 

Amber List

These foods raise some concerns that you might want to know about. Some vigilance required when buying them.

Non-grass-fed beef (E)

Non-organic cow’s milk, cream, butter, ghee, natural yogurt, ice cream, cheese (A)

Imported spring onions (E)

Imported green and runner beans (H) (E)

Non UK-grown herbs (E)

Non-organic lettuce and other salad leaves (P)

Imported peas, sugarsnaps, green and runner beans (E) (£)

Peppers (P)

Grapes (P)

Imported courgettes (P)

Spinach (P)

Cod, monkfish, hake, halibut, plaice, turbot, haddock and other prime white fish (E)

Imported tropical prawns (E) (U)

Apples (P)

Avocados (E)

Bananas and other tropical fruits (P) (E) (U)

UK- and EU-grown cherries (P)

Imported cherries (non EU) (P) (E)

Citrus fruits (P)

UK- and EU-grown black-/red- and white- currants (P) (E)

UK- grown black-/red- and white- currants (P)

Nectarines, peaches and apricots (P)

UK- and EU-grown pears (P)

UK- and EU-grown plums (P)

Pomegranates (P) (E)

UK-grown raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and blueberries (P)

Imported raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and blueberries (P) (E)

Rhubarb (H)

Breakfast cereals (commercial blends), granolas and mueslis (O) (H)

Commercial bread (H) (O)

Pasta (H)

Dried fruits (H)

Milk and white chocolate (H) (U) (O)

White rice (H)

Couscous, bulgar and other wheats (H)

Barley (H)

Polenta/maize/cornmeal (H)

Honey (H)

Treacle (H)

Maple syrup (H)

Palm sugar (H)

Rapeseed oil (H) (E)

 

Red List

These foods raise major issues that are hard to ignore.

Non-free-range chicken, duck, turkey and other poultry (A) (E)

Non-free-range pork (A) (E)

Imported veal (A)

Farmed salmon (E) (A)

Wild Atlantic salmon (E)

Eggs from caged hens (A)

Tuna (unless canned, and with a solid guarantee of sustainable fishing method) (E)

Swordfish (E)

Skate (E)

Sugar (H)

Golden syrup (H)

Artificial sweeteners (H)

High-fructose corn syrup (H)

Non-organic blended vegetable and seed oils (H) (O)

Margarines and spreads (H) (O)

Unfermented soya products (soya vegan foods, protein shakes) (H) (O) (E)