Union disputes claim chlorinated chicken from US will be served up

Scottish farm leaders yesterday responded vigorously to a suggestion by a poultry farmer from the United States that consumers should be allowed to buy and eat chicken which has been washed in chlorine.

Zippy Duvall, the head of the American Farm Bureau claimed that the UK would have to accept US food standards as part of any future trade deal with Washington.

Not so, responded Jonnie Hall , policy director with Nfuscotland who claimed the UK government had to seek a future international trading environment which “did not negatively impact the economic viability of Scottish farms and crofts.”

Pleading for current food standards to be maintained in future trading arrangements for Scottish and UK food products, Hall added, “Any and all food imports must fully adhere to the existing high animal welfare, environmental and processing standards that currently apply here.”

The onus, according to Hall was very much on the UK government to ensure future trading arrangements did not negatively impact on consumer perceptions of safety or their confidence in food.

“Any opening up of trade to lower standard produce is tantamount to exporting the UK’S environmental, animal welfare and economic responsibility.”

Duvall had claimed that since drinking water in the US was treated with chlorine, there was no problem in washing chicken carcases to help kill off harrmful bacteria. He did not accept the practice could help disguise lower standards of hygiene which was the reason the practice was banned in the EU.