Industry lawyer says that 'method of production' labelling, which would allow consumers to choose meat and dairy products based on welfare standards, would be too complicated to implement.
Labelling Matters, an alliance that includes Sustain members Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and the Soil Association, is trying to persuade the Government to introduce 'method of production' labelling for all meat and dairy products. This would help consumers to choose products based on the welfare standards the animals had experienced during their lives. The scheme would resemble the rules already applied to shell eggs, which must be labelled as being from caged, barn, free range or organic hens.
In the light of the UK's decision to leave the EU, Labelling Matters is arguing that method of production labelling could offer post-Brexit UK food producers a unique selling point, by providing consumers with the clear welfare labelling they want.
However, the campaign is meeting resistance from the industry. Foodmanufacture quotes Tim Russ, a 'leading food industry lawyer', saying that mandatory method of production labelling would be fraught with difficulty. He cites as examples a pack of chicken thighs that may contain poultry from several sources, or a sausage that can contain pork from several countries (ideas which many consumers might see as arguments in favour of more truthful labelling). But he says that the proposed measure would just create unwelcome complexity.
Find out about Labelling Matters here and read more on this story here.
Find out more here about Sustain's campaigning work for a greener, healthier and fairer food system.
Published Friday 25 November 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
