Gordon Ramsay backs campaign to support British pig industry

Celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay, Rick Stein and Tom Aikens are backing a campaign to support the British pig industry from financial meltdown.

A national petition was launched today to support British pig farmers, who are facing financial collapse as a result of rising feed prices and competition from other European countries. 

The Save Our Bacon campaign is run by Waitrose Food Illustrated magazine and calls on hospitality operators, retailers and consumers for their support. 

It highlights the average loss of £26 pig farmers face every time they send a pig to slaughter and warns that traditional dishes such as toad in the hole and bangers and mash could soon become an occasional luxury unless pork prices are raised.

“Unless things change and change fast, the British public will no longer have the choice of being able to buy British pork,” the British Pig Executive warned. “The situation is dire.”

Gordon Ramsay added: “It’s British pig farmers who produce the world’s best pork – it’s an absolute disgrace that their future is in jeopardy.”

Consumers will pay more for pork >> 

Food service operators must show support for pig farmers >> 

Opportunities to profit from pork are endless >> 

Pigs are worth it website >>

By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kühn here.