Why buy British Pork?

In the UK, the Pig Health and Welfare Council drives some of the highest welfare standards in the world and improves the way that pigs are reared.

No growth-promoting hormones are used to feed pigs in the UK. Antibiotics are used as little as possible but as much as necessary for health reasons and only when prescribed by a vet. Around 95% of pigs are raised in the UK to Red Tractor standards which include compulsory recording of antibiotic use through AHDB's electronic medicine book, which has helped drive antibiotic use in pigs down by 72% since 2015.

The distance between farm and shop is smaller than for imported pork. Local meat means fresher meat with a smaller carbon footprint.

The top 12 native British pigs breeds are – British Landrace, Hampshire, Middle White, Gloucester Old Spot, Tamworth, British Saddleback, Large White, Large Black, Welsh, British Lop, Berkshire, Oxford Sandy and Black. The majority of pork reared in the UK will be a large White hybrid.

To comply with standards and legislation all British pigs must be identifiable before leaving the farm, helping to maintain traceability throughout the supply chain.Red Tractor’s requirements cover both indoor and outdoor pig farms, to ensure high welfare standards are met on all certified pig farms, regardless of the production system. Checking the country of origin and looking for the Red Tractor logo means you can be confident that pork is British, safe and traceable.

Any imported product that comes from a country that uses sow stalls, even if only for a few days post weaning, would be illegal here. Our national legislation bans use of stalls apart from during service. 

Why buy British Pork? We've been world leaders in pig welfare and one of few countries where consumers can choose outdoor-bred pork.