The Liberal Democrats have dealt a chastening blow to efforts to promote British food, claiming that food grown or produced in the UK is gradually disappearing from supermarket shelves.
The percentage of meat, eggs, fruit and vegetables sold which was produced domestically has fallen dramatically since 1997, according to figures obtained by the political party.
The proportion of home-grown fresh vegetables is down from 63 per cent to 55 per cent, according to the figures.
The debate is a long-running one, with suggestions that the UK is over-reliant on imports leading to fears over food security.
Campaigns such as Food from Britain have looked to counter these issues, using clear labelling and encouraging consumers to purchase British products.
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