Restaurants and caterers have been urged to be clear about the country of origin of their pork dishes in the wake of Jamie Oliver’s programme Jamie Saves Our Bacon.
The programme, screened last night on Channel 4, focused on the different welfare standards behind pork and pig meat production in Europe and emphasised the stricter regulations imposed on British farmers.
The celebrity chef urged supermarkets to source more meat from the UK and make labelling clearer and trade body BPEX said this should also apply to the food service sector.
Tony Goodger, BPEX foodservice trade manager, said: “Country of origin labelling is not specific just to the retail sector – it is equally pertinent to customers when dining out.
“And that is why we would encourage all establishments to demonstrate to customers that they are proud of their supply chain and promote the source of their pork on menus.”
Goodger said the BPEX Quality Standard Mark plays an important role in highlighting how meat is sourced.
“The Mark is used on pork and pig meat that comes from an independently audited supply chain committed to high standards of welfare, quality control and traceability”, he said.
“It is also a recognisable standard for consumers, so if you source pork which carries the Mark it makes sense to display it and help differentiate your business – crucial in this current economic climate.”
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By Daniel Thomas
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