Consumers are using more ethical products in their recipes as a result of a cultural shift in attitudes, an expert has highlighted.

The recession has led to a shift not only in people's spending habits, but also their values, noted Tom MacMillan, executive director of the Food Ethics Council.

He continued: "The banking crisis and job losses have helped push issues of trust and fairness to the fore.

"At the same time, we've seen a growing preoccupation with where our food comes from and security of supply."

Mr MacMillan emphasised that larger supermarkets have enhanced their commitment towards Fairtrade by stocking its products and making them more readily available to home cooks.

Spending on green goods, including ethical food, has grown by nearly a fifth (18 per cent) over the past two years, according to figures from the Co-operative Bank's Ethical Consumerism Report 2010.