Food chain players agree on food labelling guidance

New guidance for the whole food sector on country of origin labelling has been agreed by the main players in the food chain, to provide consumers with clear, accurate information on the origin of their food.

Entitled Principles on Country of Origin Information, the document has been pulled together by representatives of the retail, food manufacturing, catering and hospitality sectors and is based on the labelling practices of the best performers in the food chain.

The principles apply to meat, processed meat products, milk, fresh cream, cheese and butter. They ensure that the term “British” can only be used for meat from animals born and reared in the UK, and dairy products made from milk produced here.

“Many British grocers already use this approach to origin labelling, and most are committed to going one step further, providing country of origin information on the meat in all composite products – such as soups and ready meals,” said a spokesman for the British Retail Consortium.

The NFU described the new guidelines as “a step in the right direction”. “Our only question is whether this will genuinely have a sustained and noticeable impact,” said chief science adviser, Helen Ferrier. “Unless all companies sign up and then consistently stick to their promises, some consumers will still be misled.”