UFU Praises Tesco Pork Labelling Initiative
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - The Ulster Farmers’ Union has praised Tesco for introducing an in-store initiative to clearly label pork products from Northern Ireland farms. Tesco have also committed to significantly increase their annual expenditure on pork from Northern Ireland.UFU Deputy President John Thompson said, "The accurate labelling of pork products is an issue which the UFU Pork and Bacon Committee has been lobbying on intensely for several years. On many occasions we have discovered pork products being retailed as ‘local’, when in fact the pork had been imported to Northern Ireland. We commend Tesco for addressing this problem. They will now be working closely with Vion, Doherty&Gray, Sprotts and Kettyle Foods to ensure that pork products retailed as ‘Northern Ireland produce’, have indeed come from local quality assured farms."
John Thompson said the Tesco initiative was good news for farmers and consumers. He said, "This is giving consumers clear guidance on the origin of their product. Tesco and the processors involved are to be commended for delivering this. We would call on all retailers and processors to follow suit and ensure consumers are given clear and accurate information on the origin of their food, in the pork industry and indeed across all sectors. There is a clear momentum that country of origin labelling should be unambiguous."