Author Topic: Bewildering labelling of pork (Read 1981 times)

Fowgill Farm · « **on:** October 19, 2012, 10:16:20 am »

Found this on BBC news website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19976691
Think some of the info in it is a bit suss but at least its helping point consumers in the right direction.
Mandy

Mrs Snoodles · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2012, 10:34:01 am »

Sainsburys

is dropping the red tractor logo. That seemed to me at least the easiest, understandable option. At least it meant British Pork, which although has varying welfare standards is way ahead of elsewhere in the world. I guess they are positioning themselves for an influx of EU pork when the market starts drying up and these is a lack of GB pork next summer.

YorkshireLass · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2012, 10:39:23 am »

I have been told that the red tractor could mean "EU pork chopped up in UK and now labelled as UK pork". Now, I always thought red tractor meant UK / British all the way through? Hmm.

oaklandspigs · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2012, 10:49:35 am »

Unfortunatley as Mandy says even the article gives a misleading picture, as there are no legal standards for the words "free range", "outdoor bred", "outdoor reared" etc. The NPA did try and get some interst in the EU setting standards, but nothing has come of this.

In the meantime whilst some supermarkets and suppliers have signed up (only 50 to date) to a common usage of these terms by no means all have eg Aldi hasn't.

And whilst Sainsbury's claim that removing the red tractor symbol will actually remove confusion, it was one of the few that most consumers had some confidence in.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2012, 01:37:31 pm »

Quote from: oaklandspigs on October 19, 2012, 10:49:35 am

And whilst Sainsbury's claim that removing the red tractor symbol will actually remove confusion, it was one of the few that most consumers had some confidence in.

And rightly so (that consumers had some confidence in it.) We farmers have to pay for our FABBL (or Scottish equivalent) status, and are assessed each year to ensure compliance. Livestock auction companies' computers are plumbed into the online database, and the Farm Assured (or Scotch Assured) status of the animals in the ring is displayed on the info screen as the animals are sold.

Perhaps I am being unfair, but Asda pay an extra 10p/kilo deadweight for Farm Assured lamb... could it be that Sainsburys simply want to cut their costs by buying UK meat more cheaply, buying imported meat without being quite so noticeable, and losing the welfare assurance across all their meat?

Anke · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2012, 03:51:01 pm »

Quote from: SallyintNorth on October 19, 2012, 01:37:31 pm

Perhaps I am being unfair, but Asda pay an extra 10p/kilo deadweight for Farm Assured lamb... could it be that Sainsburys simply want to cut their costs by buying UK meat more cheaply, buying imported meat without being quite so noticeable, and losing the welfare assurance across all their meat?

No, just as cynical as the rest of us... and rightly so.