David Ruffley MP has this week contacted the major supermarkets in his constituency asking them to do more to introduce clearer packaging for their products.

David has been running a survey online at www.telldavidruffley.com seeking local residents' views on the clarity of food labelling.

Some of the key results from David's survey, which has received nearly 120 responses, are as follows:

• 78% of people find it difficult establish the country of origin of a product

• 97% think the country of origin could be more clearly displayed on a product

• 77% of people find it difficult to locate local produce in our supermarkets

• 61% of people do not understand the different welfare labelling schemes such as 'Farm Assured', 'Free Range' or 'Freedom Food'

David has also written to the RSPCA over the need for well publicised welfare standards for food.

David said:

'This has been a hugely worthwhile campaign and one that I will continue to pursue. Nearly 120 local residents have replied to my survey which is reasonable response rate and decent sample of opinions.

'One thing is clear from their responses- food labelling is not nearly clear enough. 97 percent of people who replied feel that the country of origin could be more clearly displayed on food products. That is a shocking indictment of the state of food labelling in our country.

'Furthermore, the highly important welfare standards that we find on our food packaging are not easily understood- nearly two thirds of people simply don't know what 'Farm Assured', 'Free Range' or 'Freedom Food' actually means. One of the key things that distinguishes British produce from foreign imports is our welfare standards but if these are not understood how can shoppers make an educated choice?

'Despite the Freedom Food classification being established for 15 years, over 60percent of respondents do not know what it means. I have, therefore, contacted the RSPCA asking what more they think can be done to publicise food welfare standards and promote better understanding.

'I was also alarmed that 77 percent of local people find it difficult to find local produce in our local supermarkets. We simply must support our local farming community- they are the lifeblood of Suffolk and their produce should take centre stage in our supermarkets.

'I have written to our local supermarkets highlighting these concerns and asking what more they will be doing to address the clear concerns of local people.'