Lidl is to expand its method of production labels – which it introduced to its fresh chicken range in 2019 – to more products including duck, turkey and eggs.
The NFU said it had been talking to Lidl since the initial concept was first introduced and had raised several concerns about how method of production labelling can oversimplify the work that farmers put in to ensuring high animal welfare standards are upheld, regardless of production system, and to state that welfare and production systems are not intrinsically linked.
However, the NFU also said it welcomed Lidl’s long-term thinking and willingness to try to improve shoppers’ understanding of how food is produced.
Thomas Wornham, chairman of the NFU’s national poultry board said: “The NFU poultry board has long called for clear, unambiguous labelling to help shoppers understand where products have come from and make informed decisions on the food they buy. We are pleased that Lidl’s decision to include additional labelling was made based on the results of customer research and consideration of consumer insights and that they will continue to work closely with the assurance schemes that consumers already know and trust, such as the Red Tractor.”
