Rip Off Britain: Food Series 2

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Health-Medical Documentary hosted by Angela Rippon and Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville, published by BBC in 2015 - English narration

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Rip Off Britain: Food Series 2 Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville expose shocking truths about the food we eat in the programme that investigates everything from the secrets of the supermarkets to the reality of what's behind the labels.

[edit] Part 1

Tests reveal whether buying a more expensive orange juice means you're getting a healthier product - or if you'd be better off sticking to the cheaper, concentrated kind. Plus why some of the sweets coming to British shops from America are breaking the law when it comes to some of their bright-coloured ingredients, and would you know which has more calories, a glass of wine or a doughnut? An experiment shows why it's not just the units you might want to count if you're having a drink. Amid fears that our favourite chocolates could be about to become a thing of the past, the team whips up some chocolate of the future - but how will it go down with the people testing it?

[edit] Part 2

The team look at where some of our food comes from and how it's described, revealing why pigs that pork labels say were outdoor reared may in fact have spent most of their time inside, as well as getting to the bottom of why it is that, when British fields are full of sheep, we still import so much lamb from New Zealand. Plus the perils of foraging for mushrooms, some unexpected dangers lurking in food imported from overseas, and why some dairy farmers are returning to the most traditional kind of milk it's possible to sell - however controversial that might be.

[edit] Part 3

Britain's supermarkets are under scrutiny in this episode. A trip to the lab tests whether their trusty bags for life could be carrying more than just our shopping: how much bacteria could we be reusing too? Plus an experiment to see if you'll get longer-lasting foods by buying it yourself in-store, or ordering it online. Two viewers investigate their own food frustrations: one wants to know why pre-packed bananas cost twice as much as those sold loose, while the other feels short-changed because of his local supermarket's pricing errors. Are other stores making the same mistakes?

[edit] Part 4

The team unravel the conflicting advice we're given about the benefits and dangers of some of our everyday foods. Also featured, the illegal oyster-pickers cutting corners and creating a serious risk to health, and, with warnings we're still eating too much salt, a visit to a sausage maker reveals why it isn't as easy as it might seem to simply remove salt from the ingredients list altogether. Plus the new law that says restaurants must know which of their ingredients could cause an allergic reaction - will they be able to get it right?

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The team reveal unmissable secrets about the freshness of some of our foods, testing some of the decades-old ingredients in one woman's kitchen cupboard. Are they safe to eat? Which fish bought from the supermarkets is as fresh as is claimed - and which is already off? The team investigate two of the latest developments in the battle to beat food waste: a new invention that could be the key to knowing when food's about to go off, and the supermarket chain that puts its unsold goods to an extraordinary use, converting them into energy that powers not just one of its stores but local homes as well.

[edit] Part 6

Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville investigate problems viewers have had when eating on the go, from the families cheesed off after being fined for outstaying their welcome at one of the world's best-known burger chains, to the big-name arenas that ban you from taking in any of your own snacks and may even confiscate the food you bring in. Plus the fake pizza ingredients that aren't what it says on the menu - would you be able to tell which are the real thing? And, why the chicken in your takeaway sandwich may have come from a lot further away than you might ever have expected.

[edit] Part 7

Gloria Hunniford, Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville investigate foods that, for whatever reason, have proved controversial. They visit a school that has banned the high-caffeine energy drinks it's feared children are knocking back in dangerous quantities, and discover the surprising results of a test to see how many traces of pesticides can still be found on fruit and veg bought in the supermarket - what's left by the time we eat them?, With sugar coming in for increasing criticism, which of the alternatives on the market are any better? As the team looks into whether any other sweeteners can claim to be healthier, there's a bake-off to see how they compare when used for cooking.

[edit] Part 8

The team explore whether the labels on what we buy always tell us the full story. Are foods that sell themselves as natural quite as natural as you might think? And, with clear labelling information so vital for anyone with allergies, why do so many foods have the rather vague warning that they 'may contain nuts' - shouldn't the manufacturers be able to tell us for sure? The team also find out why there are concerns from animal lovers that pet food labels don't make clear exactly what's in the tin, and a viewer who thinks food packaging is misleading gets the chance to test out whether labels that are more up front about the ingredients would do a better job.

[edit] Part 9

Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville investigate whether the products we buy offer good value for money and reveal an often-neglected part of the supermarket where you can bag a tasty bargain. A test explores the reliability of high-street food intolerance tests, and, after a huge response to his first appearance on Rip Off Britain last year, Jordon Cox the Coupon Kid returns, with more tips and advice on how to slash the cost of your shopping. Will he be able to pass on his expertise to single mum Lucy? The team also find out which football clubs come out top in the league for the best value and tastiest pies.

[edit] Part 10

In the last of the series, Gloria Hunniford, Julia Somerville and Angela Rippon debunk some of the claims and preconceptions about foods and their apparent health benefits. Have the merits of so-called superfoods been overblown, and could other foods be equally healthy? The team look at whether the free-from fad is leading to higher prices for those who really do need to exclude certain foods from their diet, and discover why top chefs say one of the world's longest-running food scares may have got it all wrong - is there really any reason to avoid the additive MSG? Also, a look at whether the claims for detox products stack up.