Tesco pledges support to Tory Honest Food labelling campaign

The Tories have announced that Tesco has now pledged its support to the campaign and is promising to provide more information to consumers about where its meat products come from.

The Honest Food campaign was launched in February, and since then Shadow Defra Secretary Nick Herbert has met with representatives of the major supermarkets to drum up support. He has told them a Conservative Government would change the law to enforce compulsory country-of-origin labelling for meat or meat products.

The Tories say both Tesco and Morrisons have now pledged to implement the recommendations of the campaign. This includes the introduction of clear statements on all products of 10 per cent meat content or higher, and the replacement of the term ‘Produced in the UK’ with the term ‘Made in the UK with meat from X’ when a product is manufactured in the UK but contains non-British meat.

Sainsbury’s, M&S and Waitrose also support the campaign, while ASDA is currently reviewing its labelling to ensure their customers have accurate information about where products are made and come from, the Conservatives said.

Explaining why Tesco  is backing the campaign Lucy Neville-Rolfe, its corporate and legal affairs executive director said: “It is very important to provide clear information so customers can make informed choices. 

“That is why we are so pleased to support the Honest Food campaign.

“In future Tesco meat products will display more information about the country of origin further demonstrating what can be achieved by collaboration rather than regulation.”

At an ‘Honest Food’ event this morning to celebrate British Food Fortnight, Nick Herbert said: “The Honest Food campaign is succeeding where the Government has failed. 

“People want clear information about where their food comes from, and the supermarkets are responding.

“Until now a voluntary agreement has not seemed possible, but Tesco and Morrison’s support for the Honest Food campaign is a significant step forward. 

“Everyone would welcome a satisfactory voluntary scheme, but we remain committed to compulsory country of origin labelling until this is secured across the board.”

An ICM survey commissioned by the Conservatives in February 2009 found that 51 per cent believe food labelled as British indicates the meat is from an animal born and bred in Britain. However, this is frequently not the case, the Conservatives say.

A huge majority, 89 per cent, supported a ‘born and bred’ qualification for British labelling.

The Honest Food Campaign is supported by Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, along with Compassion in World Farming, RSPCA, National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Family Farmers’ Association, British Pig Executive (BPEX), National Sheep Association, British Poultry Council, Country Land and Business Association, Agricultural Industries Confederation, National Pig Association and the Women’s Food and Farming Union. 

It has been endorsed by Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall, Clarissa Dickson Wright, Prue Leith, Rick Stein and Anthony Worrall Thompson.

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