Retailers inconsistent across the country in support of British pork

“Also, at the minute producers are really beginning to suffer. Prices are not great.”

She said there was a significant difference between EU and UK pigs, and there were also probably more pigs about than had been expected.

“Although contracted red tractor numbers are being taken, extras are just not finding a home.”

The major thing learnt so far was retailers were very inconsistent.

“My local Asda was brilliant, lots of British, far more than I anticipated,” she said.

“Whereas someone else had found theirs was really rubbish.”

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She added at Tesco stores, the pork section seemed to be the smallest of all protein, but in her local Asda it was massive.

And Dr Zoe Davies, NPA chief executive, had been surprised to learn Sainsbury’s was now using a ‘fake farm brand’ - J.James & Family - similar to Tesco’s .

There was a lot of British product in the Christmas ranges, which Ms Wilson said she believed was probably down to consumers looking for something special for Christmas.

“If they want something special then that is why they are offering British.”

She said while much of the fresh produce, sausages and products such as pigs in blankets were using British meat, bacon and gammon were often imported.

“There is a lot of mixed product. Although the British product is well labelled, it is often mixed in with imported product. It is not always easy for the average consumer to make out what is British.”