Exports of food and drink are on track to hit their highest levels in almost a decade as British produce regains its appeal overseas after recovering from the taint of mad cow and foot-and-mouth disease.

If the rate of growth in food and drink exports reached 3.4 per cent in the second half of last year, exports would hit £10bn, surpassing the £9.7bn recorded in 2004 and the highest level since 1996, according to Food from Britain, a trade consultancy part-funded by the government.