The National Pig Association (NPA) is committed to running a “name and shame” campaign this Christmas in which any retailer who places a bulk festive order from countries with lower animal welfare standards, or that offers misleadingly labelled gammons, will be subjected to full public exposure.
The naming and shaming pledge is all part of NPA’s Christmas GammonWatch campaign, which is already drawing public attention to the fact that only 30% of gammons for the festive market are British, despite there being a plentiful supply from domestic producers.
“In addition to carrying out our own checks, we are asking shoppers to check gammon labels carefully this Christmas to ensure the product they buy is made from cured British leg of pork, and not from imported pork that has only been cured in Britain,” said NPA chairman Richard Lister.
Early reports from members on gammon shelf-facings have so far identified only three “British gammon heroes”. Based on September data, these are M&S and Waitrose, both at 100%, and the Co-op, at 81%.
Other individual store reports from NPA are as follows:
- ASDA – Gillingham store had nine shelf-facings for imported gammon. There were two British shelf-facings, but only one actual joint behind each, meaning there were only two British gammon joints in the whole store.
- Tesco – zero British at Redruth and Selby stores and only one British shelf-facing at Market Rasen, compared to five imported. Only three British shelf-facings, but 21 imported, at Goole.
- Sainsbury’s – only two British at Selby, but 18 imported; only three British at Hermstead Valley, but nine imported.
- Morrisons – zero British at Selby, compared to 13 imported shelf-facings; five British at Goole, but 24 imported.
- Aldi and Lidl – zero British facings at Aldi Selby. Only one British at Lidl Stowmarket, but four imported.
