He was speaking at an IFA protest by pig producers outside the Lidl store in Newbridge, which is part of IFA’s continuing campaign for ‘Honesty in Food Labelling’.

A survey carried out by Bord Bia to monitor the Quality Assurance logo for pigmeat in supermarkets shows that Lidl have no Irish pigmeat in their shops.

Mr Maguire said, “The focus of the campaign is to raise awareness of the logo among consumers, and highlight which products are Irish so consumers can make an informed choice when buying pork, ham and bacon.“

Mr Maguire said the IFA campaign would continue with renewed focus on ham products and an increased intensity on those that are not supporting the Irish pig producer.

He said, “Supermarkets have the Irish pig industry in a stranglehold that is choking the livelihoods of producers. The average Irish pig farmer has now built up losses of €100,000 and the industry is facing bankruptcy on an unprecedented scale.“

“This situation has to stop. Only if pig producers receive a fair share of the retail price can consumers be confident that Quality Assured Irish pigmeat will be available in the future.“

Mr Maguire said, “Lidl like other retailers must show the origin of products, thereby giving the consumer the opportunity to make an informed decision when purchasing."