M&S to label air-freight food

Marks & Spencer is to introduce an air-freight symbol to its food packaging.

Consumers will be notified that a product has been transported by air, by an aeroplane symbol and the words 'air freighted'.

The retailer has chosen 20 food products initially, rising to 150 by the end of the year for the new labelling. These will include beans, mangetout and strawberries.

The initiative is part of a drive to reduce the number of air-freighted food products sold by Marks & Spencer and increase local sourcing, to help reduce its carbon footprint.

'Our customers want to know more about how food is transported into the UK,' said Marks & Spencer director of food Guy Farrant.