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Get your free copy01 August 2016, 09:56 AM
- Following the results of a YouGov survey commissioned by the NFU, the industry body has formally complained to National Trading Standards Institute over the 'fake' farm branding used by some retailers
The survey found that three in five consumers would be disappointed if the foods they thought were British has actually originated from another country.
Tesco has come under particular scrutiny for the brands it has created such as Woodside Farms (pork) and Boswell Farms (beef), which imply a British heritage.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “The NFU’s legal team has looked at this carefully and as a result we are asking Trading Standards Institute to look at whether ‘fake’ farm branding complies with the relevant legal requirements.
“I have spoken to senior management at Tesco to highlight our members concerns about the use of these fake farm brands. I urge all retailers to consider seriously the results of our survey which show that mixing imported product with British product under the same fictional farm name can be misleading to many of their customers.
“British farming is proud of its high standards and the NFU would be delighted to work with retailers to ensure that customers are given clear and unambiguous information about where their food comes from.”
