A pig farmer's seven-year-old daughter delivered a letter of support from Agriculture Minister Elliot Morley at a mass demonstration today.

Phoebe Jackson delivered Mr Morley's message to dozens of pig farmers from North and East Yorkshire who were among those protesting at Scunthorpe, Lincs - the latest demonstration organised by the British Pig Industry Support Group.

The farmers are campaigning to persuade supermarkets to sell only pork, bacon and ham that met Britain's strict welfare and safety standards. And Phoebe joined protesters in demands that consumers are told where their meat comes from.

The group says practically all supermarket firms are selling cheap imported meat from pigs reared on MBM (Meat and Bone Meal), banned in this country for safety reasons following the BSE crisis.

Following today's rally, the pig farmers were due to march to the factory of Key Country Foods, a Dutch-owned firm that slices imported bacon for several supermarket firms, to seek assurances that MBM-produced meat is not used.

The campaign to increase food labelling in supermarkets is backed by the National Farmers' Union, which is urging consumers to take part in a survey of supermarket labelling standards.

Sample checklist forms are available by telephoning 01653 692843.

A spokesman for Country Foods Ltd said: "We are well aware of the situation of pig prices paid to producers in this country, but the company is not responsible for the fact that pig producers throughout the European Union, in response to the BSE crisis in beef and the Dutch swine fever outbreak, increased production and shortened the length of the pig cycle to the extent that not only in the UK but throughout the EU, there is an over supply of pork.

see Comment 'A raw deal all round'

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