Code of Practice to clean up pork labelling

A code of practice on the labelling of pork and pork products is to be drawn up which could mean an end to ambiguous terms such as “produced in the UK”.

The move has been agreed by the Pig Meat Supply Chain Task Force which involves pig producers, processors, major food retailers, and the food service sector.

When introduced, companies who have signed up to the code will clearly display the origin of the pork on the front of the packet.

Meanwhile, a declaration that the meat is, for example, “British”, will mean that the animal was born, reared, and slaughtered in Britain.

Junior DEFRA minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the agreement was great news for consumers and the supply chain.

“It means that if you buy bacon or sausages from a retailer who’s signed up to the code then you’ll know exactly where the meat has come from,” he said.

“It’s also helpful for the supply chain from farm to fork, because there will be consistent definitions which the industry can use.”

Mick Sloyan, chief executive of the British Pig Executive, who chairs the labelling sub group on the Task Force, said it was a significant step forward.

“BPEX has long championed the need for unambiguous consumer choice. This voluntary code will reassure consumers that, when they buy British pork products, they will have been produced to our high welfare and exacting quality standards.”

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