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Growing concerns among UK consumers about cheap food imports has led supermarkets to commit to upholding food standards, regardless of the outcome of post-Brexit trade deals.
The UK’s 10 largest retailers were asked by the Irish Farmers Journal if they were committed to only offering local meat and dairy products in the future. If they could not, they were also asked if they would refuse to sell imported food that is produced below UK standards.
The strongest commitment came from the Co-op which already uses UK-origin meat in its own brand ranges across fresh, frozen and ingredient products.
Other retailers gave similar commitments across fresh products, including Morrisons, M&S, Waitrose and Aldi.
In the debate around cheap food imports as part of new UK trade deals, the finger has often been pointed at US chlorinated chicken and hormone treated beef.
This has put pressure on retailers to distance themselves from stocking cheap imports early on.
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Iceland all gave commitments to not offering fresh food that is produced below domestic standards, with several stating that customers do not want it on supermarket shelves.
But a potential grey area is the likes of frozen and ready-made products, and pressure is likely to build on supermarkets to extend commitments further.
The food service sector, which includes catering firms and restaurants, is seen as the most likely main market outlet for cheap imports as there tends to be less accountability on the origin and standard of ingredients.
However, two of the largest fast food chains in the UK, McDonald’s and Burger King, committed to upholding their current standards. Other foodservice companies were less committal, and some gave no comment at all.
Tesco
The UK’s largest supermarket chain declined to directly answer the questions asked, instead pointing to comments made by its chief executive Lewis last September.
“Whatever the trade deals are, we like other retailers, will look at them, but what we won’t do is give up our standards as we look at those opportunities,” Lewis said.
“Our position hasn’t changed,” a Tesco spokesperson confirmed.
Asda
“We have no intentions of changing our current approach to welfare and safety standards in our fresh meat and poultry categories and will always be guided by our customers when it comes to the products we put on our shelves.”
Aldi
Aldi issued a statement last week committing to only sourcing beef and chicken from UK farms, regardless of future trade deals.
“We will never compromise on the standards or specifications of our products, and that includes a commitment to never selling chlorinated chicken or hormone injected beef,” the statement reads.
Sainsbury’s
“We are committed to upholding high standards for our customers and will never sell these products.”
Morrisons
A spokesperson for Morrisons said that the retail chain had an “ongoing commitment” to only sourcing meat, milk and eggs from UK farms for its fresh own brand ranges.
M&S
“Our commitment to our customers and family of 10,000 UK farmers has not and will not change. Our promise is that we only ever source quality fresh food from select farmers we know and trust. Customers can be confident that we will never sell chlorinated chicken or hormone-treated beef.”
Waitrose
“All of our own label beef, chicken, pork, eggs and fresh milk is from the UK and that will not change. All of our lamb (around 75% is already UK sourced) will be 100% British from next summer. Our counters already offer British lamb year round.”
Co-op
“The Co-op already sources 100% British own-brand fresh and frozen meat, and where it is used as an ingredient. There has never been a more important time to support our agricultural industry.”
Iceland
The retailer said that all its fresh meat and milk is sourced from within the UK, but it did not commit to extending this policy across all its ranges, including frozen products. It says it has no plans to sell chlorinated chicken or hormone-treated beef.
Foodservice sector
McDonald’s
“We’re proud of the suppliers we use and we won’t work with anyone who does not adhere to our own high quality standards, as well as those required by UK and EU legislation.”
Burger King
“Whatever trade deals may be agreed, we have no intention to source meat produced to standards lower than the high standards already adopted by our meat suppliers and their producers.”
Compass
The catering company, which is a key player in the education and healthcare sectors, did not comment directly on its future procurement policy, but said it mainly offers UK-origin food at present.
“We have a UK-first sourcing policy which means in practice 75% of what we serve is British, with the remainder largely comprising products which can’t be sourced from the UK like bananas and rice.”
Others
No comment was received from supermarket chain Lidl, as well as food service firms KFC, Costa, Sodexo and Mitchells & Butlers.
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