Farmers hit out at Sainsbury’s logo decision
In what seems to me a very retrogrde step (although I do agree the proliferation of “assurance” logos has become confusing), this article announces:
“The distinctive red logo, which was introduced 12 years ago, was designed to assure shoppers in all supermarkets that the meat, dairy and other produce they buy has been made to high animal welfare standards.
The logo, which was launched in 2000 by then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, also signified that the food was British.
However Sainsbury’s said that it will phase out the kitemark because its shoppers are confused by the high number of logos on food packaging. Although the retailer said that it will maintain the “standards” that Red Tractor is based on, its decision irritated farmers.
A spokesman for the Red Tractor scheme said that almost 80,000 farmers have been left “extremely disappointed” by the supermarket’s decision to ditch the assurance scheme.
The spokesman said: “We know that our 79,000 assured farmers will be dismayed. Farmers are rightly proud of the logo and work hard to produce food to high standards of food safety, animal health and welfare and environmental protection.”