24/02/2010 - New pork labelling code agreed
Major retailers and restaurant chains have agreed to offer more information about the origin of their pork products, in an attempt to phase out confusion over the food items.
According to the Government, supermarkets including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Whitbread have signed up to a voluntary labelling code to clear confusion over pork, bacon and ham, as well as products such as pork pies.
According to current guidelines, despite pigs having been born, reared or slaughtered abroad, the meat can be labelled as British if it is processed in this country.
However, with the help of the current agreement, consumers will have a clearer idea of where the meat they are buying has come from. Customers can also find out which businesses have agreed to the voluntary agreement on the internet.
Firms who comply with the labelling code will have to display country of origin clearly on the pack.
Meanwhile, if the meat is described as "produced in the UK", mentioning the country it originally came from will be mandatory.
Firms will be allowed to use flags on the packaging only if the pork comes from that country, and the use of specific terms such as Wiltshire Cure will mean the meat used to make the product comes from the UK.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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