Figures produced for the British Pig Executive (BPEX) show consumer purchases of bacon for in-home consumption during the week ending November 4 were up four per cent compared with the previous week.

BPEX Consumer Marketing Manager Chris Lamb said: "British consumers have reacted in their usual way to a potential crisis by buying more of the product to support British farmers.

"The chart we were using showed ten weeks and that week was the highest individual week of the ten.

"It shows British consumers believe the most important thing is a balanced diet and moderation, eating wide variety of foods from the different groups."

The figures were from TNS Worldpanel's 25,000 household panel.