Brent Crude isn’t the only commodity that’s falling in price. Pork has dropped 20p since summer, and it’s still falling.

"You wouldn’t expect us to welcome the steady decline in pig producer prices over the past few months — but we do applaud the fact that these price drops are helping retailers and foodservice to delight customers with lower prices for British pork and pork products," National Pig Association chair Richard Longthorp said on Wednesday.

However, NPA said that Russia’s meat embargo is causing serious market difficulties in Europe.

Commenting on the legacy of 'horsegate', which led to dramatic upheavals two years ago, Longthorp said, "Retailers are sticking to the promises they made after Horsegate to source more British pork because it is a quality, farm-assured product, with a short, transparent supply chain."

In particular the NPA chair praised the British pork ‘hundred-percenters’ as identified by the industry’s Porkwatch survey, namely Waitrose, M&S, Budgens, the Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and hard discounters Aldi and Lidl.

"Pork is not only the most versatile of meats, it remains outstanding value — which is particularly important whilst consumers remain price conscious in what, for many, are still challenging times," he said. "With a 20p a kilo drop in pig prices since June, the value of British pork is now even greater, especially as customers are getting a locally-produced high-quality product."

Even so, he said that to return to the pre-Horsegate days of sourcing meat solely on price, and regardless of origin, would be the worst kind of short-termism, adding, "The huge surge in the popularity of British pork we have seen since Horsegate has led to a period of recovery in the British pig industry, with investment in staff training and apprenticeships, new facilities, new technology and new accommodation — and everybody has benefited."