But there is one voice in the wilderness that does have something positive to say about the nation's food manufacturers, which might explain why pig farmer and TV presenter Jimmy Doherty scooped the Personality of the Year award at this year's Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards.
The award is voted for by readers of FoodManufacture.co.uk and is designed to celebrate the individual who has contributed most to raising the profile of the food industry over the past year.
Food Manufacture's deputy editor Rod Addy caught up with Doherty - presenter of Jimmy's Food Factory - after the awards ceremony at London's newly refurbished Savoy hotel last week to find out why he is so fired up about food production.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION, AND MORE WINNERS...
Click here to watch Rod's interview with Graham Forrester, director of manufacturing at apetito, winner of the frozen food category award and the Company of the Year award.
Click here to watch Rod's interview with Abdullah Khan, site manager at Askey's, which won this year's Judges' Special Award.
Click here to watch Rod's interview with Tracy Hamilton, co-founder of Mash Direct, winner of the Small Company of the Year award.
Click here to see the full list of winners.
Click here to access the dedicated awards website.