More than 10,000 people have signed an online petition calling for an increase in pork prices in support of the struggling pig farming industry.
The British Pig Executive (BPEX) has calculated that pig farmers are losing, on average, as much as £26 for every pig sold.
To counter these losses, the industry is asking for a “modest rise” in retail prices for pork products carrying the Quality Standard Mark and for those prices rises to be passed down the chain to the producer.
The ‘Pigs Are Worth It’ campaign petition, will be presented to Downing Street next Tuesday (4 March), coinciding with a pig farmers’ rally in Whitehall.
Stewart Houston, BPEX chairman, said: “The fact that we now have more than 10,000 signatures on the petition is excellent news. It just goes to show that there is a whole lot of support out there from people who really do care about the plight of Britain’s pig farmers.
“Research has already shown that an overwhelming 78% of consumers are prepared to pay more for pork to cover the rising production costs and support pig farmers.
“But although we are beginning to see increased prices on a range of pork and pork products, very little of that has found its way down the supply chain to the producer.”
Celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay, Rick Stein and Tom Aikens are all backing the campaign.
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By Daniel Thomas
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