British labelling stretches the meaning of ‘local’

The British Broadcasting Corporation cites a survey by Local Government Regulation (LRG) inspectors which concludes that almost a fifth of foods labelled as local in England and Wales are, in fact, not. They surveyed 558 items in 300 shops, restaurants, markets and factories.

Of the “local” claims, 18 per cent were deemed “undoubtedly false” and another 14 per cent were unverifiable.

There is no legal definition of the term “local” in British food labelling legislation, but the Food Law Practice Guidance states that local and localized should mean “sales within the supplying establishment’s own county plus the greater of either the neighbouring county or counties or 30 miles/50 kilometres from the boundary of the supplying establishment’s county.”

Better Farming - May 2011