Speaking at the NFU conference in Birmingham, out-going National Farmers’ Union president Peter Kendall said that following the horsemeat scandal last year, supermarkets had promised to shorten supply chains and stock more British food.

Sainsbury’s has moved to selling 100 per cent British fresh pork and Tesco is stocking 100 per cent fresh British chicken.

“Hats off to Aldi and Lidl – both make sure their fresh meat and poultry comes from British farms, most of it Red Tractor,” Mr Kendall said.

He said, however, there is still some way to go with more ready meals also being made with British ingredients.

“Last year, I called for shorter more trans[parent supply chains,” he said.

But he added: “The NFU is not suggesting that supermarkets remove all foreign produce from their shelves.

“That would be protectionist, the polar opposite of a fair and fully functioning market.

He said that a One Poll last year had shown that 78 per cent of shoppers wanted British produce and a year on the figure stands at 79 per cent.