UK NEWS

CELEBRITY CHEFS BACK BRITISH BACON

Gordon Ramsay is backing British bacon

Thursday February 21,2008

By Nicola McCafferty for express.co.uk

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GORDON Ramsey and a host of other celebrity chefs today backed a campaign to support British bacon.

The F word star branded it a “complete disgrace” that the future of British pig farming is in jeopardy.

The industry has warned that farmers lose about £26 for every pig sold for slaughter.

Rick Stein and Tom Aikens are among the other top chefs backing Waitrose Food Illustrated’s Save our Bacon campaign which launched today.

Mr Ramsay said: “It’s British pig farmers who produce the world’s best pork and it’s a complete disgrace that their future is in jeopardy.

“That’s why I’m giving my backing to the Save our Bacon campaign.”

Waitrose is urging shoppers to buy British bacon and pork to support farmers.

It also wants other retailers to stock more British pork and bacon instead of imports.

The British Pig Executive (Bpex) said wholesale grain costs had doubled in the past year which has pushed up the cost of feeding pigs.

Speaking at the Save our Bacon campaign launch in London today, Waitrose MD Mark Price said 60 per cent of bacon sold across all UK retailers was imported.

He urged shoppers to look for British bacon in all stores, not just Waitrose.

Mr Price said: “When you go to Sainsbury’s or Tesco or Asda what you should be doing it looking at the label on your bacon. The one that says British country of origin, that is the one you should be buying.

“It might cost you a few pence more but it tastes better and it is saving a national treasure.”

Television chef Rick Stein gave his backing to the campaign, saying: “I find it very sad to think that the British banger could become a luxury food item.

“The only way we can change this is to support the producers on our doorstep and be prepared to pay fairly for good food.”

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NICE ONE?

22.02.08, 10:19am

Nice one rozipoz.
But I fancy the two legged pig when cooked would a) Have the texture of a Turkish wrestlers Jock strap. b) Leave the unfortunate diner with un-ending dyspepsia, and
c) Cost the bloody earth!!

• Posted by: kojak • Report Comment

GORDON RAMSEY

21.02.08, 9:43pm

british bacon is better quality!!
what more can you say!!

• Posted by: janetc1 • Report Comment

BUT I RECENTLY READ BACON IS BAD FOR US

21.02.08, 8:01pm

I recently read bacon is bad for us and should be banned from the British diet, who is telling little porkies.
Don't worry I love bacon but get mine in form of bacon pieces 2lb for £1 if they have any if not bacon pieces in a vac pak from market in Lincolnshire town, don'y know where it comes from but it tastes good.
You see I live on a very low fixed income so can't afford suppermarket packets and local farmers market is far to expensive for poor people, I was shocked at prices when i went to a local one.

• Posted by: CAN • Report Comment

GOOD ENOUGH FOR ST GEORGE

21.02.08, 3:39pm

I have travelled all over the world, many countries p[retend not to have heard of bacon, although many use it in their recipes. I have also worked in Poland and Denmark, two large producers of the world Bacon market, but recently I had a visit to Lincolnshire and have to say that the smoked rindless back bacon medalions I had for my breakfast were the tastiest morsels I have ever had the good forture to try. If all the british bacon is this good then we should promote british pig farmers to their own award. I recall a time when bacon was regarded as too salty and bad fo you, well as a bacon butty eater and sampler of all things culinary I take my hat off to the Great Gordon for taking the trouble to enlighten us of the best butty finning in the land.

• Posted by: Canterbury_Ghost_Tour • Report Comment