Tesco has come under fire in Wales from farmers and farm organisations after a number of its stores began stocking Argentinian and Wagyu beef on its fresh meat counters.

The company is running an ‘Argentinian beef trial’ in six of its stores in Wales. It has not specified for how long it will be running the trial.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We’re always looking to explore new food trends and trial new products and flavours with our customers, and are running a limited trial of popular restaurant products – Argentinian and Wagyu beef – alongside our usual range on counters in six of our stores.

“We are proud supporters of British and Irish beef, which continues to be available all year round on our fresh meat counters.”

However, the Welsh National Farming Union (NFU Cymru) has voiced its disappointment at the stocking of Argentinian beef in Tesco stores.

NFU Cymru deputy president, John Davies, said: "Welsh and British farmers adhere to the highest animal welfare standards and produce world-class products, therefore consumers know that when they buy British they’re getting a quality product.

"With this week being Great British Beef Week, it was the perfect opportunity for supermarkets to be celebrating the great products we have, therefore it is disappointing that Tesco has taken the decision to stock a branded line of Argentinian beef, albeit on a limited trial basis."

"NFU Cymru continues to work with all retailers to encourage them to support Welsh livestock farmers."

Tesco Ireland has ‘no plans’ to stock beef from outside of Ireland

Meanwhile, Tesco Ireland has confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that all of its fresh meat available in its stores is 100% Irish, 100% of the time.

“We currently do not stock any Argentinian and/or Brazilian beef and we have no plans to stock beef reared or produced outside of Ireland,” a spokesperson for the company said.