Four in 10 Brits rarely, or never, check food or drinks packaging to see place of origin

Four in 10 Brits admit they “never”, or “rarely”, check the packaging of their food and drink – to find out the country of origin, a study has found.

A survey of 2,000 adults found that almost three-quarters (71%) have no idea where coffee originates from, while 64% did not realise that tea usually comes from China – with 10% believing it to be a British creation.

Exactly a quarter of those polled were unaware that Champagne is a French beverage, while 26% don't know where Coca-Cola originated, and 29% are clueless about where Sangria was first enjoyed.

But 16% of those polled blame this on food and drink manufacturers, for not clearly labelling places of origin on their product packaging.

In fact, as many as 61% even reckon that these manufacturers deliberately lead consumers to believe their products are made in a different country to the one they are really produced in.

The research was commissioned by Estrella Galicia, a Spanish beer brewed in Spain rather than the UK, to launch the brewery's “beer manifesto” – which found that one in 10 don't know where their beer comes from.

And the findings follow data which shows that only three of the UK's top 15 most popular “world beers” are brewed in their country of origin – with the rest brewed in the UK.

Aitor Artaza, spokesman for the fourth-generation, family-owned brewery, said: “We’re proud to say our beer is Spanish – not Span-ish. The place that food and drink comes from is important. If a consumer seeks “authentic produce”, they expect it to be just that – but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

“Within our industry specifically, products can appear to be brewed and bottled abroad, when actually they’re made in the UK. So to be sure you’re getting what you expect, whether that’s beer or other produce, always check the label.”

The study, carried out through OnePoll, also found that, while 61% claim to prefer authentic produce, many simply assume a product is from a particular place, based on the appearance of its packaging.

It is already a legal requirement to clearly state on the label where a product is made – something that 74% of respondents agreed with.

Aitor Artaza, spokesman for Estrella Galicia International, which has made beer in Spain's Galician region since 1906, added: “Understanding the origin of our food and drink is not just about curiosity, it's about empowerment.

“In a world where “world beers” are readily available to millions of consumers at their fingertips, it’s easy to forget the cultural significance behind each sip.

“Knowing the true origins of “world beers” enriches our culinary experiences, allowing us to savour not only the flavours, but also the stories told by authentic world beers.”