Food and farming standards
Beef, pork, lamb and dairy are produced in the UK to world-class food and farming standards
We can be proud of the quality food production
in the UK
Not all meat and dairy is produced in the same way across the globe, but from farm to fork, the food from British farmers is produced to some of the highest standards in the world.
Food safety and quality
The UK scores 100% in the Global Food Security Index for safety. This is largely due to the Food Standards Agency, which works to ensure all food is safe for us to eat and maintains a strong reputation for quality and authenticity, both at home and abroad. Standards cover every stage of the food chain, from animal health and welfare, to packaging and storage.
Using hormones to boost growth in animals has been illegal in the UK for well over 40 years. Using antibiotics to boost animal growth is also illegal and has been for over 15 years.
Over the last decade, British farmers have significantly lowered antibiotic use and now have some of the lowest usage rates in the world.*
Animal health
Antibiotics are important medicines for protecting animal health, so they are only used when prescribed by a vet.
Farmers work hard to provide optimal nutrition and good health and welfare standards, along with the best genetics, to ensure their meat and dairy products are of the highest quality possible.
Farming standards
While legislation ensures minimum required standards on every farm in Britain, it is underpinned by assurance schemes, such as Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured.
Assurance schemes bring shoppers confidence in knowing the food they buy has been checked from farm to pack. This includes certifying traceability (or what farm it came from), high production standards and care for our environment and wildlife.
Standards implemented by Red Tractor, the UK’s largest food and farming scheme, are world leading in their breadth and depth, spanning every stage of the production process.
From the land, not the lab
The UK’s weather and landscape make it an ideal place to graze cattle and sheep; we have plenty of grass, rain and sunshine.
This means all our sheep, and the vast majority of our cows, spend most of the year out in the field, only to be brought indoors when it’s too wet and muddy in winter.
A large number of our pigs are also outdoors – in fact, the UK has the largest outdoor herd in Europe. But as pigs love to churn up the earth to root for goodies, we can’t have all of our pigs outside.
Red Tractor
The Red Tractor logo is only found on food and drink products that are sourced from UK farms and have been certified to our rigorous standards from farms to pack. The Red Tractor means that the food has been responsibly sourced, safely produced and comes from crops and animals that have been well cared for. This ensures that quality British produce is traceable, safe and farmed with care – so it’s good for you and good for British farmers.
Red Tractor
Food Standards Scheme
Related articles
Nutrients in beef, lamb and pork
A Balancing Act with Jimmy Doherty
Milk Every Golden Moment
The Headliner with Danny Jones
Lancet study about red meat and health challenged by scientists
Wake up to B12
Should we cut out dairy products from our diet?
Why are whole grains good for your health?
