High standards and low prices high on consumers' agenda, survey reveals

Consumers believe imported food should meet the same environmental and animal welfare standards as food produced in the UK, but more than a third buy the cheapest product available and only 30 per cent look for the Union Jack or Red Tractor label. As the UK and Australia progress towards signing a free trade deal - an arrangement slammed by farming groups as 'a great betrayal' - a new survey carried out by ComRes on behalf of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, found 77 per cent believe the standard of imports should match those maintained on British farms.But the 2,000 responses show a large proportion of shoppers still buy on price. It came as the noise around the animal welfare record of Australian livestock farms, particularly regarding the practice of mulesing, grew louder. Attitudes BGAJ president and food journalist Baroness Rosie Boycott said: "The public's attitudes towards food and farming standards remains clear and should serve as a reminder to Government that safeguarding agriculture's world-leading high standards should be a priority as ministers forge ahead with new trade deals."The results show no change in public sentiment since the BGAJ's last survey, which was carried out before a Brexit deal was agreed. Baroness Boycott added: "The public's head has not been turned by any alternatives in the slightest, despite the UK exiting the EU"It also indicates that the public would not support any free trade deal allowing Australia tariff-free imports on beef, lamb and sugar - an arrangement that would undercut UK farmers and set a dangerous precedent."National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker said: "Mulesing is just another example of the ways that sheep are produced in other parts of the world that would be unacceptable here - if people knew about it. "Society here has certain expectations and values and this deal risks pushing these things out of sight/offshoring. Mulesing"Mulesing would be one, and its definitely not a process we would like to see allowed here, but the simple scale and care of shepherding would be another."Mr Stocker also criticised the deal's terms which would see taxes on imports phased out over 15 years."I do not think we want to be simply exporting to wealthy countries around the world in 15 years time and then feeding our people with a more ‘standard product' that is cheaper," he added. "That will do nothing for the connections we are all working hard to make between society and farmers and the way food is produced." Survey highlights 55 per cent think it is important food is produced to a low carbon footprint. 42 per cent would be happy to pay more for food with a lower carbon footprint.

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High standards and low prices high on consumers' agenda, survey reveals

Consumers believe imported food should meet the same environmental and animal welfare standards as food produced in the UK, but more than a third buy the cheapest product available.

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High standards and low prices high on consumers' agenda, survey reveals

Consumers believe imported food should meet the same environmental and animal welfare standards as food produced in the UK, but more than a third buy the cheapest product available.

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