A nationwide survey of roadside caf customers has shown they really do think British pork and bacon is best.

The survey, carried out by representatives of the British pig farming industry in Little Chef restaurants, shows overwhelming support for the use of pork and bacon produced to British standards.

As part of the survey, representatives from Malton-based Yorkshire Farmers Livestock Marketing Ltd and the farming community visited a Little Chef restaurant on the A64 to ask diners to complete questionnaires.

They were among UK pig industry supporters who nationally visited 433 Little Chefs and more then 169 Granada service stations to conduct a survey for the British Pig Industry Support Group earlier this week.

Farmers also visited Little Chefs at Bilbrough and Sinderby.

According to their own results released yesterday, the BPISG received over 99 per cent support from the public.

Customers were asked: "Do you believe Little Chef should serve only pork, sausage, bacon and ham that complies with British legislation?"

Of the 909 returns, 903 people replied "yes". It also mattered to the majority that the products were British.

Hilary Burt, senior livestock marketing officer at Yorkshire Farmers' Livestock Marketing Ltd in Yorkersgate, Malton, was among those asking questions at the Staxton Little Chef.

He said: "We need to educate the public while shopping or eating on the necessity of supporting the home industry - or else there will not be one."

Now pig farmers are calling on Little Chef and Granada to buy only British.

George Gittus, of the British Pig Industry Support Group, said: "We believe it would cost Little Chef just 2p a rasher of bacon to change to this ethical buying policy and to serve up British breakfasts that really are British.

"We expect caterers to state clearly their buying policies for all to see and to respect the wishes of their customers."

A Little Chef representative said: "Approximately 80 per cent of all pork served in Little Chef restaurants is sourced from Britain.

"We have yet to find a British supplier who could offer us the volume of bacon we need at a competitive price, but following some very constructive meetings with the National Farmers' Union we believe we could be close to resolving some of the sticking points we have had in the past.

"We are sensitive to the position of British farmers and actively promote British meat with the work that we do with the Meat and Livestock Commission."

see COMMENT 'Label meat British'

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