It's decision will confuse customers and blur the distinction between imported meat and ethically-produced British bacon and pork, says NPA.

In it's Save Our Bacon campaign, which has grabbed headlines not only in Britain but around the world, NPA urges shoppers to look for the well-known Red Tractor logo.

"They won't find it in Sainsbury's any more but they will in all the other major supermarkets including Tesco and Asda, which continue to support British farming," says NPA.

Shoppers have used Facebook and Twitter to condemn Sainsbury's for dropping the Red Tractor logo, which is the instantly-recognised symbol showing a product has been farmed in Britain, to Britain's higher ethical standards.

"The Red Tractor scheme is unique in the world and British farmers are very proud of it," said NPA chairman Richard Longthorp.

"We are on a journey of continuous improvement in professionalism and animal welfare and we would much prefer Sainsbury's showed support for British farming by joining us on that journey, as the other major retailers are doing."