Brazilian beef labelled as British

29 June 2001



Brazilian beef labelled as British

By Robert Davies, Wales correspondent

ONE of Britains big five supermarkets sent 15 in gift vouchers to a farmers daughter who complained about Brazilian beef which was labelled British.

Anne Price bought a slice of sirloin in a pack carrying a union flag and British Farm Standard tractor logo. The pack also bore a South American label.

The purchase took place at the Asda supermarket in Swansea.

“I had no intention of buying meat but after seeing imported beef labelled British I bought a pack as evidence,” said Mrs Price.

“I think it is disgusting that a UK supermarket chain can stock so much foreign meat when our livestock farmers are having difficulty.”.

She complained to a counter assistant and was told that the store had difficulty obtaining home-produced meat because of foot-and-mouth.

Mrs Price later wrote to Asdas Leeds headquarters claiming it was insensitive to stock imported meat in the middle of a farming crisis.

Thomas Kelly from Asdas customer relations department wrote back saying the mislabelling was a human error, and there was no intention to deceive.

He wrote: “All colleagues at the store have been spoken to and re-briefed on the importance of labelling the correct product with the country of origin.

“The South American beef came from Brazil.

“By way of apology for letting you down, please accept the enclosed gift vouchers, which I hope you will enjoy spending on future visits to our store.”

• Tractor logo celebrates first birthday, FWi, 13 June, 2001
• Foreign food could use logo – BBC, FWi, 13 June, 2000
  

• Blair unveils British food kitemark, FWi, 30 March, 2000