CLA stresses importance of the public knowing real origin of food on their plate after BBC probe exposes subterfuge

The CLA believes the BBC investigation into the origin of the food eaten by the public in England is a damning indictment of the food service sector.

The probe – by BBC News – showed that a significant amount of beef sold in pubs and restaurants as "local" or "British" had actually come from abroad. The BBC reported that DNA testing at 40 food outlets revealed 20 percent of samples taken from such labelled beef in south-west England were really foreign.

The findings support demands by rural economy experts the CLA that primary food products sold in pubs and restaurants must be properly labelled and verifiable.

The CLA's Just Ask campaign puts a responsibility on the consumer to ask the origin of the food sold and also on the supplier to make sure that food they say is local is precisely that.

Country Land and Business Association President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: "Unfortunately, the BBC's findings come as no surprise – this kind of practice was the very reason why the CLA launched the Just Ask campaign. Frankly, the range of answers you get when you ask where the steak you are eating comes from often beggars belief.

"It is essential the Government introduces a mandatory beef-labelling scheme in England, as is allowed under EU law. It is simply unacceptable for those in the food service sector to pass off foreign beef as locally produced. Government sanctions are urgently needed to prevent this continuing to happen." 

The CLA President added: "All those in the food service sector now have a wonderful opportunity to regain the confidence of the consumer by publicly supporting the Just Ask campaign. We believe that Just Ask can regain customer trust in the food chain which will have been sorely tested by the conduct of the food outlets exposed by the BBC's excellent investigation."

 MEDIA CONTACTS:

Oliver Wilson, Director of Communications, CLA (Country Land and Business Association), 020 7460 7936 or 07702 928828, ollie.wilson@cla.org.uk,

Phillippa Coates, Press Officer, 020 7460 7934, phillippa.coates@cla.org.uk

Out of hours duty phone: 020 7201 9511.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The CLA – the rural economy experts - has a 36,000-strong membership. 

2. For more information about the CLA, visit: www.cla.org.uk