icScotland - Tesco meat 'closer to home' pledge
icScotland logo
icScotland News Sport icHomes
Search icScotland for:
Today's UK news
News  UK  Today's UK news  Article

Tesco meat 'closer to home' pledge

08:05, Feb 27 2013

 

The boss of Tesco has vowed to bring meat production "closer to home" and work much more closely with British farmers as part of a raft of changes in response to the horse meat scandal.

Chief executive Philip Clarke has introduced a new testing process so that customers can be sure that what is on the label is in the packet.

He also said that from July all chicken meats sold at Tesco's UK stores will come from British farms, the BBC said.

Mr Clarke told the BBC: "The testing regime is intended to ensure that if it is not on the label it is not in the packet, if it is beef, it is beef, and nothing else. And that is the most comprehensive testing regime I have ever seen, and it's happening right now.

"The second thing is we're going to bring meat production a bit closer to home. We do buy some, particularly for our frozen products, out of Europe, and as we can we'll bring it closer to home. And the third thing is we're going to have more partnerships, more collaboration with farmers."

But he would not promise that the changes would not cost customers more.

"I hope that it doesn't mean price increases, but I can't stand here today and tell you that it won't. I hope it doesn't, I'll work to make sure it doesn't."

Mr Clarke will address the National Farmers' Union conference in Birmingham later, and said he hoped the changes he indicated were "good signs" of why customers should trust Tesco.

Shoppers have said they want more food from British farms on supermarket shelves in the wake of the horse meat scandal, a poll has suggested. Farmers called for more transparency and an end to "short-termism" in some sectors of the food supply chain and for better labelling so people could choose to buy British.

More than three-quarters (78%) of 1,000 people polled for the National Farmers' Union said supermarkets should sell more food from British farms and 43% said they were more likely to buy traceable food from farms in Britain following the revelations over horse meat in processed foods.

 
Pressure mounts over 'loons' claim
Leader of NAHT targets warning
Queen to get garden festival look
Scores hurt as car hits US parade
Pakistan politician gunned down
Crohn's patients slam hospital food
Activists attack PM on gay marriage
One in 10 'fell asleep at wheel'
Miliband pledges tax crackdown
Faith leaders back assisted dying
Ukip hits new high in opinion poll
Tories bid to smooth 'loons' furore
Governor warning on housing package
Cameron 'losing control' of party
I won't step down, insists Assad
Several blasts rock Libyan cities
Boys held over teenage 'drug' death
Ukip hits opinion poll high of 19%
Building society raiders sought
Police name drug death teenager
Top Top

Back Back

E-mail this article to a friend

Printable VersionPrintable version

 
News  UK  Today's UK news  Article
 


Copyright and Trade Mark Notice
© owned by or licensed to Scottish & Universal Newspapers Limited 2013.
icScotland™ is a trade mark of Scottish & Universal Newspapers Limited.
Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement before using this site.

 
Advertisements
 
Jobs in Scotland: