A farmer’s question: will the Westminster government introduce food labelling legislation against the wishes of their ‘friends’ in the retail trade?

 

Farmers For Action UK (Northern Ireland) have written to Northern Ireland’s First Minister and Deputy First Minister asking them to join forces with the Scottish and Welsh devolved governments and call on the Westminster government to introduce tough new food processing and labelling laws immediately, as advised by the Food Standards Agency.

William Taylor, FFA UK NI co-ordinator, stated: “it is obvious from a statement made by Owen Paterson, Minister of the Environment earlier this week after he met with retailers that the Westminster government has no intention of introducing legislation that would hurt their ‘friends’ in the retail trade.

“First the banks cheated on our trust and the last Westminster government decided without our permission that our money must bail them out and still they cheat – but worst of all the current government shows no sign of adding tough new laws to stop rogue large supermarkets, large food wholesalers and large food processors feeding us and our children and hospital patients horsemeat or horse offal.  To add insult to injury the Chairman and Chief Executive of Iceland has the cheek to virtually deny that horsemeat or offal was ever present in some of the leading supermarkets including his own.”

Rogue corporate greed

Mr Taylor went on, “Enough is enough of rogue corporate greed demanding food to be supplied below the cost of production.  Meanwhile, consumers our customers including children and patients unknowingly get fed horsemeat or offal and perhaps more. 

“UK farmers supply top quality fully traceable red meat yet are forced to sell it and most other commodities at prices needing at least a 35% increase to even reach the cost of production to these same greedy corporates, who then introduced dubious meat products behind closed doors to artificially keep down farm gate red meat prices whilst underpinning their profits. 

“Let this be a warning to government: food has a cost and family farmers across the UK are financially on their knees due to rogue corporate behaviour, currently many farmers can not afford to feed the people any more!

“Corporate food profit taking and cheating has gone too far, consumers and farmers are now on the war path.  This time we the voters want immediate government action, our lives and our children’s lives and our livelihoods depends on it – no action – no votes!”

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William Taylor: 56 Cashel Road, Macosquin, Coleraine, Co L’derry, N Ireland, BT51 4NU

Tel/Fax  028 703 43419  Email  taylor.w@btconnect.com