Consumers urged to check their gammon amidst confusing label claims

Look for the red tractor logo when shopping to ensure that the gammon they are buying is 100 percent British.
Look for the red tractor logo when shopping to ensure that the gammon they are buying is 100 percent British.

Consumers are being urged to check the origin of their Gammon this Christmas to ensure it is British. Retailers are being criticised for misleading customers over the origin of their gammon with confusing packaging and labelling.

Richard Lister, chairman of the National Pig Association, said that some retailers were being “somewhat confusing” by mixing British with non-British gammon. He also criticised the use of the colours red, white and blue on non-British gammon packaging.

Richard, who farms pigs in North Yorkshire, said “we’ve got the best standards give consumers the opportunity to choose British gammon.”

He advised consumers to look for the red tractor logo when shopping to ensure that the gammon they are buying is 100 percent British.

Although plenty of British high-welfare, traceable, farm-assured pork is available for the Christmas gammon market, some retailers have traditionally imported their Christmas offer from Denmark and the Netherlands.

But as producer prices tumble, NPA is urging retailers to support British pig farmers this Christmas, by sourcing more British gammon — and making sure it gets the best display positions.

NPA argues that if retailers want the convenience of a thriving British pig sector on their doorstep, producing reliable supplies 52 weeks of the year of a quality-assured, traceable, high-welfare product, then it's essential they make a special effort to support British pig farmers over the Christmas period.

Last week the NPA survey carried out by their members showed Asda had only 4 percent British gammon shelf-facings, versus imported shelf-facings. And Aldi did not have any British gammon shelf-facings at all.

An NPA spokesman said “The Asda result doesn't come as much surprise but Aldi is a disappointment as it's one of NPA's hundred-percenters on British pork and clearly does recognise the commercial arguments for supporting domestic producers.”