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8th August 09
8/8/2009

Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has said that a report carried out by analysts Allegra Strategies and sponsored by McDonalds once again highlights the need for honest food labelling on British Products. The report, entitled ‘Eating out in the UK 2009’,

Report once again highlights “need for honest labelling” – Elliott

 

Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has said that a report carried out by analysts Allegra Strategies and sponsored by McDonalds once again highlights the need for honest food labelling on British Products. The report, entitled ‘Eating out in the UK 2009’, revealed that almost 60% of people in the United Kingdom would prefer to eat food sourced locally.

 

In a statement, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone representative said: “It is not a surprise to learn that this report has, like others before it, highlighted the desire that exists amongst members of the public to eat locally sourced food. However, one major problem we face, and this is something that I and my party colleagues along with the Conservatives have sought to highlight, is the fact that currently food packaged in the UK, and which was not necessarily sourced here, can be labelled as ‘British.’”

 

“To give you an example, if beef was to arrive into Europe from Brazil it could be then transported in the United Kingdom, packaged here, and labelled as British. Then a member of the public could go into a shop with the best intentions of supporting British farmers by buying British produce and not actually realise that they are buying produce from a foreign country.”

 

“This is why we are demanding the introduction of Honest food labelling with only food ‘born and bred’ in the UK been labelled as British. We are also making this call as often food from foreign countries does not meet the high production standards our farmers follow here, and so a person buying what they think is British produce at the moment may not only be getting food that isn’t British but also produce that is not up to the high standards we follow in the UK.”

 

“What we want to ensure is that any meat product may not be labeled British unless the animal from which the meat was derived was born, reared and slaughtered in the United Kingdom. This is what the public wants and it is a Conservative and Ulster Unionist Government that can make it a reality.”





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