The Irish Farmers Association has held a protest outside a Kerry Foods facility in Shillelagh, Co Wicklow, at which it called on the company to "make a more concerted effort to support Irish farmers and stop misleading consumers," according to IFA National Pigs Committee Chairman Pat O’Flaherty.
“Pig farmers are insisting that companies with Irish brands use 100% Bord Bia Quality Assured pig meat in their products and that their labelling clearly indicates country of origin," O'Flaherty added.
"Companies cannot have the option of using the Bord Bia logo on their brands some of the time and not at other times. This practice is confusing for consumers, who have consistently said they want to buy Irish meat and support local farmers."
The protest, which took place last Friday, was held to 'vent the anger felt by pig farmers at the persistent use by processors of brands that portray Irish origin on non-Irish product, while Irish pig farmers are experiencing the worst income crisis in decades', the IFA said.
O'Flaherty added that "tougher legislation is needed to require country of origin labelling on all pork and bacon products.”
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Stephen Wynne-Jones
