Honest Food Campaign progress

Neil Carmichael welcomes honest food labelling campaign success

A local campaigner has welcomed as a “real victory” the decision by two leading supermarkets to sign up to the Conservatives’ Honest Food campaign.

Neil Carmichael was speaking in response to revelations that both Tesco and Morrisons pledged to change the labelling of their meat to say if imported food is used.

The move will see labels include clearer information of products where the meat content is 10 per cent, or higher.

Furthermore, labels will include the phrase “Made in the UK with meat from ‘X’” – rather than “Produced in the UK” – when a product processed in the UK contains non-British meat.

In response Neil, the Conservative Prospective MP for Stroud, described the move as “a real victory for local farmers and shoppers”.

Neil said: ““It is not acceptable that food could be labelled as British, when the meat could come in from abroad and merely be processed in this country.

“This is misleading and affects our own local producers who face increased costs and pressures imposed by the present government.

“You only have to visit the farmers market in Stroud to realise what a high standard, and variety, of food is created here on our doorstep in the Valleys and Vales. I want people to know the origin of their food and proud of their local producers.

“Meat labelled “British” should be born and bred in Britain, raised to our high welfare standards. The Conservatives are demanding honest “country of origin” labelling to restore trust and ensure that people know what they are choosing.

The Honest Food Campaign, launched earlier this year and which gain support from Celebrity Chefs and the RSPCA, called for clearer labelling for food. It would mean a Pork Pie made in the UK with imported meat would no longer be able to be labelled as British.

A survey conducted by ICM in February gave evidence that UK consumers are currently being misled in spite of recent publicity about misleading labelling.

It found that 51 per cent believe that a product such as sausages or bacon labelled as British or “produced in the UK” meant that it was from an animal reared in Britain.”

People can add their support to this campaign and find out more at www.honestfoodcampaign.com

Picture: Neil Carmichael and Nick Herbert MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) promote the Honest Food Campaign at Frocester Fayre with John Hawkins.