Tuesday 11 March 2008

Waitrose in the dock

Normally I think of 'Waitrose' as being the good guys amongst British supermarkets but they appear to be marketing certain products in a slightly controversial way. Outwardly they seem to be doing the right thing promoting food with labels like 'Gloucester Old Spot' (a traditional variety of pig) and beef from 'Hereford' cattle, historic British breeds. But all is not what it seems. In the small print it is evident that the meat is from cross bred animals so that one parent is indeed 'Gloucester Old Spot' or 'Hereford' for instance. What is raising the ire of some though is that a quick inspection of the product gives the impression that they are using pure bred animals rather than cross bred. It might be that Waitrose aren't doing anything illegal but I think they are being just a little too creative in their labelling.

1 comment:

Ballardsfield said...

Thankyou Brian for highlighting this problem, being a breeder of Pedigree Gloucester Old Spot pigs here in Cornwall we are a little concerned that Waitrose are misguiding the public into beleiving that the Old Spot they market as any resemblence in flavour or quality to the real thing that we produce maybe they should approach breeders like myself to supply the real deal.
www.ballardsfield.com