Back British food manufacturers call from shadow DEFRA secretary

While central government agencies had a policy of buying only products made to these standards, she said this should be rolled out across all state bodies.

Speaking at a ‘Food for Thought’ fringe event at the Labour Party conference in Manchester yesterday (October 2), she added: “There's more we can do. We can create and secure jobs in food manufacturing by doing this. We can't say we'll buy only British, because that would breach World Trade Organisation ​[WTO] rules, but we can say we'll only buy foods produced to British welfare standards.” ​

It was one of several positive comments about the industry made by Creagh and her shadow cabinet colleagues over the past two days, much to the delight of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Heaped praise​

At this morning's event she heaped praise on the industry for its attitude towards waste.

She told delegates it was inexcusable that so much of what was produced ended up in landfill when there were people in the UK in food poverty, but said manufacturers were a shining example of how resources should be used: “Manufacturers waste very little food, because it's not in their interests, but I must say, from visiting sites such as Nestle in York, I'm often amazed and impressed with the different uses they find for any waste products.”​

The problem, she added, occurred further down the supply chain – a problem that would have to be addressed “with food poverty on the rise”. ​

Export earnings worth £12bn​

Meanwhile, in her main speech to conference she said: “The food industry is our largest manufacturing sector. It turns over £76bn a year, with export earnings worth £12bn. These are big numbers and big opportunities.”​

Yesterday she added: “It is important to reiterate that it is the one part of the economy that is growing.”​

The attention afforded to the industry was richly deserved said FDF communications director Terry Jones. He told told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “It was great to hear what Mary​ [Creagh] said in the conference hall and she is absolutely right. But it's not only shadow DEFRA ministers that are standing up and paying attention. ​

“I met with Chuka Ummuna, shadow secretary of state for the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, and his team and they were equally as enthusiastic about the industry. We now need to make sure its needs are met because we have countless opportunities to grow over the next few years.”​