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| Food watchdog urges suppliers to ditch origin labels on meat products Companies can say sausages or pies are 'British made' if they are processed in UK, even if meat comes from abroadUK food manufacturers are being urged to phase out misleading "British made" labels on popular meat products.New research published today by the government's food watchdog reveals widespread consumer confusion over what "origin" labels actually mean.Under existing legislation, manufacturers are allowed to call products such as sausages and pies "British made" if they were processed in the UK, even if the meat was reared and slaughtered abroad.At a time of growing consumer interest in the provenance of food and concern about "food miles", the research for the Food Standards Agency reveals that shoppers remain baffled over the difference.Tim Smith, the chief executive of the FSA, said: "This research shows that confusion remains over what produced in the UK actually means. The issue is not about more origin labelling but the need for greater clarity on the labels on some of our most popular foods."He said proposed new European labelling rules would require businesses that made origin claims to provide further information, so that people knew where their food actually came from, not just where it was processed.The FSA will negotiate with other EU members to strengthen draft rules and persuade British manufacturers and retailers to adopt the new guidance voluntarily.The Conservative party has already promised clearer country of origin food labelling through its "honest food" campaign, while major supermarkets such as Tesco and Waitrose are reviewing their labelling and their "British-sourced" food ranges.But consumer groups said a tougher approach was needed from the FSA.Which? chief policy adviser Sue Davies said: "While we're pleased that the FSA supports EU proposals to make origin labelling less misleading, we'd like to see them go further by pushing for an extension of origin labelling rules. Our research shows strong consumer support for country of origin labelling, especially for meat and poultry."It's bizarre that currently, the origin of beef has to appear on the label, but it doesn't for other meats such as pork. It's great that more food companies are now providing information on a voluntary basis, but unless this is mandatory consumers won't always get the full picture."Food safetyConsumer rightsFood & drinkRebecca Smithersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Average speed cameras to be installed on major urban stretch for first time Permanent average speed cameras are to be installed on a major urban road for the first time. telegraph.co.uk |
Tigers complain over 16-men error Leicester officially complain after the Ospreys field 16 men for part of the second half in their Heineken Cup win. news.bbc.co.uk |
'Permanent government' seizes moment to shape thinking of elected politicians | Michael White When Tony Blair moved into Downing Street his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, used to tell visitors how the new prime minister would replace Whitehall's feudal baronies with a Napoleonic model of government – a results-oriented regime driven from No 10.A decade or so later the highly politicised, command-and-control approach, much of it visible in the Thatcher era, is more remembered for its failures – from Iraq to school Sats to ID cards – than its successes. In 2010 all parties agree, with varying degrees of contrition, that Whitehall should become cheaper, smarter, decentralised and customer-focused.Gordon Brown diagnosed many of the problems in 2007, but has proved unable to apply himself to effective remedies. With a change of political direction all but certain after the election, the permanent government – officials, quangocrats and advisers – have seized their chance to publish blueprints for reform. They know that for once politicians may be listening.Ten days ago the Institute for Government (IFG), generously funded by the former science minister and grocery dynast Lord David Sainsbury, and run by unorthodox former mandarin Sir Michael Bichard, published its draft. Based on anonymous interviews with 61 senior Whitehall officials, its focus is the need to restore what it calls a strong "strategic centre".Not Blair's Napoleonic version (charismatic and often evidence-light), but civil servants committed to no more than 20 key goals for government. Below it, ministries should become better self-managed and much better at cross-departmental co-operation, Blair's elusive "joined-up government". Wannabe Tory ministers have been to IFG training seminars, where only sensitive subjects such as Europe are avoided.Sparse media reports portrayed the IFG study as an attack on Brown's "dysfunctional government," as some did ("Brown's knee-jerk policies") the rival report of the Better Government Initiative, published today but leaked at the weekend. Both are more nuanced than that, though they barely disguise disappointment with Labour's record and hope of influencing a new team.Sir Christopher Foster, the BGI chairman, who advised Labour ministers in the 1970s, called Blair "the worst prime minister since Lord North" as a manager. The Chilcot (a BGI insider) inquiry has heard officials hint as much. Foster's complaints are wider and older: that governments dream up bad laws (remember the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act?), driven by short-term policy-itis and the media's "inexhaustible appetite" for novelty. He wants a stronger Commons, better scrutiny and fewer bills.Backbench reformers were pressing the case on Jack Straw last night, though suspicion between the elected and unelected elites is running strong: Sir Thomas Legg, well-pensioned scourge of MPs' expenses, is another BGI insider.It will be easy for critics to detect a lot of "golden age" nostalgia in the mandarin critique. Thatcher and Blair tried to shake up the system because they judged it elegantly ill-equipped to deal with the contemporary world.A succession of inadequate cabinet secretaries, keepers of the Whitehall flame, have been in effect sidelined by No 10 political teams, though the incumbent, low-key Sir Gus O'Donnell, is reckoned to have mastered the job better than most. The Tories plan to keep him on: the permanent government continues.Tony BlairGordon BrownCivil serviceMichael Whiteguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Accused 'saw killers leave scene' A Belfast man accused of murder claimed he knows the real killers, but is too scared to name them, a court has heard. news.bbc.co.uk |