21 June 2007, 13:40 PM

  • Campaign group, The Food Commission, has called on all food manufacturers and retailers to end the misuse of the term 'seasonal'.

It said that eating seasonal food is a good way for consumers to reconnect to the natural cycles of the year and reduce environmental impact, as seasonal food is (or should be) grown outside without the need for heated greenhouses or long distance transport.

However, it found numerous examples of suppliers and retailers applying the term to imported and out of season produce such as pineapples, strawberries (in December), and even chocolate.

The Commission called on all suppliers and retailers to help people understand the seasonality of UK farming and fishing including via accurate labelling, and for the FSA and Defra to remind the industry what it means. It said it wasn’t surprising that three-quarters of young people do not know the seasons for classic British fruit and vegetables.