Many regional food and drink products belong to assurance schemes that specify the standards to which they are produced.
Increasingly consumers want to know how their food and drink is produced and where it comes from. Sourcing products that are part of these assurance schemes is a good way of showing that you are selling or serving quality produce and that it is fully traceable to the producer.
Some of the main assurance schemes are explained below.
Red Tractor
- The Red Tractor logo can be found on chicken, pork, lamb, beef, fruit, vegetables, salad, flour, sugar and dairy products.
- The mark guarantees that the food and drink has been produced to strict standards covering food safety and animal welfare from the farm to the retailer and caterer.
- The Union Jack in the Red Tractor logo indicates that the product has been farmed and packed in the UK, with farmers regularly inspected to ensure that standards are maintained.
To find out more about Red Tractor call 020 7630 3320 or see www.redtractor.org.uk
Freedom Food
- The mark can be found on meat, poultry, salmon, dairy and egg products from farm animals.
- The mark indicates that the food has been produced according to the RSPCA's welfare standards. These are based on the Farm Animal Welfare Council's 'Five Freedoms' and are applied to each stage of an animal's life.
- Regular traceability checks are carried out on the whole production process from farm to shop shelf to ensure that everyone involved in the production of Freedom Food labelled products has been approved by the scheme.
- Whilst the majority of the foods carrying this mark are produced in the UK, this is not actually part of the criteria. In theory foods from abroad could come under the scheme but any application would have to be looked at on a case-by-case basis.
For information about Freedom Food call 0870 754 0014 or see www.freedomfood.co.uk
LEAF Marque - Linking Environment And Farming
- The LEAF Marque is found on fresh, seasonal produce - fruit, vegetable, meat and even flower products.
- The Marque confirms that the food has been produced in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way, based on the holistic principles of Integrated Farm Management.
- The Marque represents produce that is certified to a standard. It does not represent country of origin; this is displayed independently of the Marque.
- LEAF provides buyers and industry professionals with a directory of all its producers, packers, processors and wholesalers.
To access the LEAF Marque directory telephone Jeremy Boxall on 01580 712488 or see www.leafmarque.com
Organic
- There are a number of organic certification bodies approved by Defra; each has a unique UK organic certification code. The main body is the Soil Association, Organic Certification UK5.
- Legally a certification logo does not have to appear on packaging but it must have a certification code.
- Organic products from EU countries will carry their own certification code.
- Organic products from outside Europe may not have a country specific code in which case the importer can apply for certification from one of the approved bodies. Therefore, a UK code does not necessarily mean that the food and drink has been produced in the UK.
For a directory of organic producers contact the Soil Association's Business Development Team on 0117 914 2407 or see www.soilassociation.org/sourcemarketplace
