Consumers demand ‘ethical' pork supply

Ninety per cent of consumers are concerned that the majority of pork, bacon and ham imported into this country would be classified as illegal if it was produced in the UK.

The findings were part of a British Pig Executive (BPEX) report on the growth in pig meat imports into the UK in 2003, which estimated that some 70% of pork entering this country is farmed under conditions that would fail minimum welfare requirements in the UK.

Since 1999 the UK has banned the use of stalls and tethers for pregnant sows. Although the rest of the EU plans to follow suit by 2013, the difference now between production standards has made imported meat much cheaper.

Mick Sloyan, chief executive of BPEX, said: "The importers say they merely respond to market demand, so we thought we'd test that demand. It is implicated from our survey that consumers expect the [production] standards they demand of British pork to apply."

He added that food service operators should heed the results of the survey. "Are food service operators serving their customers' demands and trust if they do not meet those standards?" he asked. The report calculated that 85% of all bacon used in food service was imported.

Two of the biggest food service suppliers, Brakes and 3663, this week confirmed that they sourced pork products from both the UK and the EU.

A spokesman for 3663 said: "3663 sources pork and processed pork products from Holland and Denmark, produced to European standards." Meanwhile, Brakes stressed that it would use only "EU-approved facilities".

Although it is legal to import meat that has satisfied EU regulations but not UK farming standards, the report found that 92% of consumers agreed that imported meat should be produced to similar standards as in the UK.