FAKE British bangers could finally be exposed under fresh plans to slap country-of-origin labels on meat.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed told The Sun he is considering forcing firms to spell out where their grub really comes from.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed[/caption]
Pork reared abroad but processed into bacon in Britain can still legally carry a Union Jack[/caption]
Mr Reed blasted companies for flogging foreign sausages and bacon under a Union Jack badge, saying: “We want clarity for consumers, so that if they pick up a product with the Union flag on it, they should know where it comes from. That’s very important.”
The move would build on Tory plans announced last year to tighten food labelling after ministers warned that too many shoppers were being tricked into buying imported meat dressed up as British.
At the moment, pork reared abroad but processed into bacon in Britain can still legally carry a Union Jack – leaving families believing they are backing British farmers when they are not.
The previous government launched a consultation on clearer labelling, but rules were never brought in before the election.
Now Mr Reed has vowed to finish the job and go further to back British farmers and shoppers.
He said: “We want people to back British produce. We should be very proud in this country. We’ve got some of the best restaurants in the world. Some of the best food is produced here in the world… And we should celebrate that.
“I’d love to see people buy more British food, but to do that, they need to know where the food comes from.”
His comments come after Labour pledged earlier this year that half of all food bought for the public sector should come from British farms.