Heinz changes farmers' market soup labels

Heinz is making changes to the labels of its Farmers’ Market soup following calls for a boycott of the range.

The food giant will include a statement on the back of packs and in its TV advertising saying the products are made with quality ingredients “... from the UK and other countries”.

It will also put the phrase “Inspired by farmers’ markets” on the front of packs.

But it will not drop the name Farmers’ Market despite criticism from the National Farmers’ Retail & Markets Association (Farma) and Stroud MP David Drew.

Farma has accused Heinz of misusing the term, saying the firm does not source local ingredients nor support local producers.

Earlier this month Farma urged shoppers to boycott the Heinz Farmers’ Market soups.

Heinz officials met with Farma representatives last week to discuss the issue.

The company today insisted it had not misled shoppers – but said it would make a number of changes.

Heinz will try to source key ingredients from producers based near to where the soup is made.

It will also make changes to the Farmers’ Market soup labels.

Heinz spokesman Nigel Dickie said the firm had listened to Farma.

“Whilst we don’t believe there was anything confusing or misleading about the labelling, we have listened to their views and will continue to work closely with them going forward,” he said.

The Heinz Farmers’ Market range of six flavours of canned and chilled soups launched in the UK in the summer.

Mr Drew has tabled an Early Day Motion accusing Heinz of upsetting the farmers’ market movement.

The firm’s Farmers’ Market brand: “...makes no attempt to source its materials through farmers’ markets and is, at best, causing confusion on what ingredients are contained within those soups let alone whether they would be capable of meeting the stringent standards that farmers’ markets have to meet,” the EDM said.