I have just read your centre page spread about the food chain as a source of concern (The Argus, February 20).

I am a customer of Bramptons and buy all my meat from this shop. I am a pensioner and can verify that it is within the means of people on small incomes.

I know that any meat I purchase there is tasty and tender and, because not one ounce is wasted, meat left over can be made into a pie or cut and kept for sandwiches.

Ready meals are not as nutritious but are obviously quick.

More people should try their local butcher – they might be surprised and actually enjoy the preparation.

B Rittman, Somerset Street, Brighton

No one seems to have touched upon the ethical aspect of the horsemeat affair.

Although not a vegetarian per se, I cannot say I enjoy eating the meat of any of the higher animals, but I have a particular moral repugnance towards eating horsemeat.

These beautiful creatures have spent their lives working for us, given us riding pleasure, raced for us, hunted for us. Is their reward for all this faithful service to be butchered and eaten?

Rather, they deserve our gratitude and respect.

They should be put out to a peaceful retirement, as described in Philip Larkin’s poem At Grass.

John Tatum, Prince Regent’s Close, Brighton

Unless the word “contaminated” is changed to “contains” and it is explained to the public that there is no health risk to eating horsemeat, it would seem that millions of tons of beef products will be destroyed or exported to Europe.

I am not suggesting that failing to label the food as such was right, but surely it could be sold (after relabelling) with, say, a 30% price reduction.

Robert Hunt, Nursery Close, Portslade