MP backs campaign for honest labelling

Under current rules, meat imported from abroad and processed here '“ such as bacon, sausages and pies '“ can be labelled British.

But The Honest Food campaign that has been launched is demanding compulsory 'country of origin' labelling so that meat products that are labelled British can only come from animals born and bred in Britain.

The call for country of origin labelling is being endorsed by farming and animal welfare organisations including the NFU and RSPCA, and the Honest Food campaign is also being backed by food celebrities including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Clarissa Dickson Wright.

It has been launched with a website and promotional video and aims to:

Empower consumers to make informed choices about the food they buy

End misleading packaging of non-British meat or meat products being labelled as British

Support British producers by allowing consumers to identify genuine British meat

Promote superior British produce by highlighting the advantages of British produce '“ especially the superior welfare standards of UK food

Bring honesty and integrity to meat sales to restore trust and confidence in British food and labelling in general.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette February 18