British bacon under threat

A campaign is being launched aimed at saving the British pig industry's bacon.

The move comes as experts warn that British pork and bacon is under threat due to financial pressures on pig farmers.

Grain used in pig feed accounts for 50 per cent of farmers' production costs, and the price of wholesale grain has doubled in the past year.

Pig farmers currently lose at least £20 on every pig sold for slaughter, according to industry body the British Pig Executive (Bpex).

Bpex spokesman Jon Bullock warned: "This is a totally unsustainable situation and the industry is close to meltdown.

"It does mean that unless things change and change fast the British public will no longer have the choice of being able to buy British pork. The situation is dire."

Pig farmers are no longer paid enough for their animals to break even, despite retailers putting up the price of pork products, Mr Bullock said.

Those who farm both pigs and arable crops can now get more money selling their grain than by feeding it to their pigs to be reared for meat, he said.

Around nine million pigs are currently produced for slaughter in the UK every year.

The Save Our Bacon campaign is being launched by Waitrose Food Illustrated magazine.

It said supporters include chefs Gordon Ramsay, Tom Aikens and Rick Stein.

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