Defra HQ criticised for buying food from abroad

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) leads a campaign to promote British f…

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) leads a campaign to promote British food, but it has recently emerged that their headquarters sources 44% of its food from overseas producers.

Shadow environment, food and rural affairs minister Nick Smith described the findings as "disappointing and surprising".

Defra established the "Great British Food Unit" earlier this year in an attempt to "turbo charge" UK food exports. Environment Secretary Liz Truss has pledged to ensure British produce is "people's first choice to eat here and abroad".

But in response to a written parliamentary question from Smith, Defra confirmed its London HQ at Nobel House sourced 56% of food from British producers between January and March this year - just a 4% increase on the previous three-month period.

The Labour minister told the Press Association: "(Food and Farming Minister George Eustice) has put this out there on the last day of Parliament hoping someone isn't looking because he knows the figure is too low and the improvement too small.''

A Defra spokesperson said: “Defra is committed to buying British, which is where 100% of our bacon, sausages, beef, lamb, turkey, cabbage, cauliflowers, swede, carrots, milk and yoghurt come from. We also promote in season British fruit and veg.

“While there will always be foods we have to import, like bananas, tea and coffee, we know more can be done which is why central government have committed to buying fresh, locally sourced, seasonal food by 2017 and Defra launched The Great British Food Campaign to get more people across the country buying British.”