Food labelling, don't be misled

The Last Significant Change….remember these words people.

Consider if you will the much misunderstood practice of commercial food labelling. See if you can identify with this scenario. You’ve picked up a foodstuff in the supermarket, checked out the label and seen the words ‘Produced in the UK’ bought whatever it was and felt jolly pleased with yourself. I know I have.

However, your British pride might be slightly dented after I impart the following key piece of information.

Whatever it was you bought can legally claim to be made in this country as long as the ‘last significant change’ to that item happen on our shores.

So perhaps you bought sausages or chicken in breadcrumbs, or a ready meal with a picture of a farmer on the front.

Those sausages could well be made from cheap imported pork as long as they were turned into sausages here.

That chicken could be from lord only knows where, perhaps intensive poultry sheds in Brazil or Thailand (where an increasing amount of our imported chicken comes from) but as long as it was crumbed and packed here its ‘Produced in the UK’ status is totally legitimate – in the eyes of the law anyway.

As for that ready meal. EVERYTHING contained within could be from anywhere in the world as long as it’s ‘readiness’ was done here it’s OK to claim ‘Produced in the UK’

My Favourite however is ‘Wiltshire Cured Bacon’. That’s got to be bacon from Wiltshire right? WRONG. Wiltshire refers to the method of curing, not the lovely county. Cheap imported meat is being passed off as quality UK produce everywhere you look. Please don’t fall for it.

Farm, Park & Wild’s meat boxes, game boxes and seasonal ingredients are most definitely from the UK. Provenance is at the heart of everything we do and you will taste the difference.

Eat well and check the label, but even then think twice.