Farmers protest over labelling

PLACARD-waving farmers stood outside Safeway, Lewes, on Tuesday to highlight what they described as poor and misleading meat labelling at the store.

Among them was Lewes National Farmers Union vice-chairman Roger Foxwell who said: 'I have visited other Safeway stores in this area and I can t fault them. But this particular one is sloppy.

'While most of the meat on display is well-labelled with its country of origin clearly marked, there is one chilled counter which sells meat packed and labelled in the store s own butchery.

'Shoppers couldn t make a choice to buy British if they wanted to.

'I have just bought lamb mince and rolled shoulder of pork with no country of origin on it.

Mr Foxwell said Safeway had made a big effort to support Welsh hill farmers. At any future meeting he would ask the company to support Sussex farmers too.

A Safeway spokesman said the company was proud of its meat labelling standards which were among the highest in the industry.

'The case of our Lewes store, where meat was found which was not correctly labelled, was a mistake by the store, she added.

'We apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result and have taken measures to ensure that this doesn t happen in the future.