A cut above the rest
When choosing your meat be sure to check you’re buying 100% New Zealand pork and support our Kiwi farmers and industry!
- Pricing label should say NZ PORK or ‘born and raised in New Zealand’ and/or
- Features one of these on-pack labels:
Golden rule: If the pricing label doesn’t say NZ PORK, doesn’t say 'born and raised in New Zealand' OR have one of our on-pack labels... it’s probably not New Zealand pork!
Many butchers and supermarkets in New Zealand sell New Zealand born and raised fresh pork and also use it in their bacon, ham and sausages, as well as a range of other further processed products such as marinated pork and pickled pork.
How to check where your fresh pork and cured pork is from
From February 2022, New Zealand’s food labelling regulations have changed to make it easier for you to identify where your fresh pork and cured pork is from.
Previously, you may have spotted labels for imported pork products featuring the phrase ‘Made in New Zealand from local and imported ingredients.’
Now, fresh pork and cured pork products must state the actual country or countries in which the animals providing the meat (pork) were raised.
For example, ham processed in New Zealand from German pork will need to state ‘German pork’ or ‘Pork raised in Germany’ or something similar on the label (or on signs located alongside).
Most importantly, for cured products, if the statement ‘Made in New Zealand’ is used, it will need to be further qualified as ‘Made in New Zealand from pork raised in country X’ (where X could be New Zealand or another country which must be specifically named). Compliant examples are below:
Find your local butcher
Look out for the following to make sure you’re buying New Zealand pork:
1. Wording ‘born and raised in New Zealand’ on the pack (it may be anywhere on the label, including on the label under nutrition information/ingredients):
2. Any one of these on-pack labels:
3. The pricing label should say NZ Pork:
4. If you are still unsure, check with your butcher or retailer
Golden rule – If it doesn’t say born and raised in New Zealand, have NZ PORK on the pricing label, or feature one of our on-pack labels, it’s probably not New Zealand pork!
What products are covered under fresh pork and cured pork?
• Fresh pork includes all cuts of fresh meat such as pork chops, pork roasts, pork mince, pork belly, diced pork, pork schnitzel etc.
• Cured pork includes all types of bacon and ham, including prosciutto, pickled pork and other preserved pork products (that contain at least 66 percent of whole pieces of pork).
What products are excluded?
Other pork products including marinated pork and pork sausages fall outside these new regulations. So these products may still be labelled ‘Made in New Zealand from local and imported ingredients with no country/countries listed).
100% New Zealand marinated pork and pork sausages should say ‘born and raised in New Zealand’, have NZ PORK on the pricing label, or feature one of our on-pack labels. If the origin of the pork is not provided, then chances are it is not New Zealand born and raised pork!
Questions or concerns
If you have any questions about identifying New Zealand pork, please feel free to contact us.
For comments or concerns directly related to product labels (for example, if you find something misleading), we recommend you contact the manufacturer and send them a photo of the product label outlining your feedback and concerns.
