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Tories seek country of origin food labels
A CAMPAIGN calling for clearer country of origin labelling on food is being launched by the Conservatives.
The Tories' fight to back genuine British produce supports the Yorkshire Post's Clearly British campaign, which is calling for better food labelling so that consumers know the food they are buying is truly British.
A staggering 1.1 million tonnes of foreign pork, beef and lamb was imported into the UK in 2006 – up from 675,000 tonnes in 1995. In addition, 560,000 tonnes of poultry was imported last year.
Foreign meat does not have to be produced to the same high standards that this country's farmers adhere to and it can be labelled as produced in whichever country it was processed in last. Processing can simply be smoking bacon or curing ham.
Confusing food labels mean shoppers who are keen to buy British produce are unwittingly purchasing foreign meat.
Last month Jim Paice, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, challenged Prime Minister Tony Blair over the Government's refusal to introduce country of origin food labelling.
Over the past few years, Ministers have rejected four food labelling Bills put forward by Conservative MPs, and Tory leader David Cameron last month called for clearer labelling when speaking at an Oxford farming conference.
Mr Paice said the Tory Party would mount its campaign over the next few months to stress the importance of proper labelling for British produce.
He added: "The labelling situation at the moment is potentially deceitful.
"The simple fact is that most consumers would assume anything that gives the indication it is British is British. Consumers are horrified when they realise that meat they thought was from Britain was actually only treated in this country and the animal actually came from abroad.
"In my view, consumers can be easily deceived by the packaging. We must have accurate country of origin, particularly on meat but also on other foods, where the origins of the major ingredients should be displayed."
Mr Paice said although some consumers chose their meat on price rather than country of origin it was important to give them a clear choice about where the meat they bought came from.
European regulations mean the Government cannot take action alone, but the Yorkshire Post is calling on Ministers to put pressure on the European Union to force all countries to declare clearly where their meat is from. The European Commission is reviewing its regulations.
Mr Paice accused Ministers of being too weak in pursuing the labelling issue in Europe and urged them to take a more robust approach.
He added: "This is something the Conservatives have been talking about for years but now we're going to start a campaign to keep up the profile. It's terribly important, particularly given the recent bird flu outbreak and the news that the Bernard Matthews turkeys were shipped from Hungary. How can Britain market its products properly when people don't know what they are buying?"
Made in Britain
How to lend your support
To register your support for our campaign email yp.newsdesk@ypn.co.uk or write to Yorkshire Post, Clearly British campaign, Newsdesk, Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 IRF.
Let us know if you are a restaurant, cafe or hotel that tells customers where their food comes from or a retailer working to improve labelling. Contact us, too, with examples of bad practice.
Contact our newsdesk on 0113 238 8427 or yp.newsdesk@ypn.co.uk. Mark your email Clearly British.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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