DEMAND for assured, quality North West produced beef has never been higher, according to the National Farmers’ Union.

The organisation said it has noticed shoppers trading up or opting for fresh British meat over imported processed products in the wake of the horse meat scandal.

Adam Briggs, NFU Lancashire County Adviser, said: “When the issue broke, the NFU immediately contacted major retailers to express our anger and disappointment that their actions and the actions of their suppliers had undermined the hard work of farmers in producing quality, traceable produce.

“We followed this up with our president Peter Kendall writing to their chief executives, asking that they take steps to ensure that labelling is transparent.

“Cheap food should not come at the cost of standards of safety, traceability and transparency, which all consumers, regardless of budget, are entitled to.”