Labelling: making informed choices

The labels on packs of ham, bacon and pork can be very confusing. Until recently there have been no industry agreed labelling definitions of farming systems, such as ‘free range’, ‘outdoor bred’ and ‘outdoor reared’ for pigs so it’s hard to know what you’re buying.

A huge breakthrough was achieved on February 23rd 2010 with the launch of a new voluntary code of practice on pork labelling which includes some farming systems (free range and outdoor). The RSPCA has been working towards this goal with the pig industry and government as part of the Rooting for Pigs campaign for some time. The code also includes country of origin labelling.

Major companies have already signed up to the code including Asda, Marks and Spencer, Morrisson’s, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, The Co-operative, Waitrose, Baxter Storey and Whitbread.

The labelling code will be fully launched to consumers in April and a website will be available to check whether your supermarket has signed up.

We’ll be keeping you updated with further information and shopping advice when it becomes available.

If you want to be sure the pork, bacon, ham you buy has been reared to higher welfare standards, look for the Freedom Food logo, as this means the pigs have been reared to strict RSPCA standards

What can I do?

Find out what the labels mean and only buy higher welfare pork products.
 
 

 Find out more ways to support our Rooting for Pigs campaign.