Don’t let in acid-washed US chicken, say farmers

BRITISH food producers have warned against accepting chemically washed chicken to secure a US trade deal.

Both the British Poultry Council (BPC) and National Farmers’ Union (NFU) fear the Government is clearing the way to accept food produced to lower standards than allowed here.

Environment Secretary George Eustice has hinted that the UK would be open to discussions over imports of acidwashed meat, which could be pivotal to trade talks.

The system is used in the US to disinfect carcasses. But British farmers and consumer groups argue it masks poor animal welfare conditions that would be illegal in this country.

BPC chief executive, Richard Griffiths, said: ‘British poultry producers don’t dip their chicken carcasses in chemicals as we do not “clean up at the end” or take any short-cuts.’

NFU president Minette Batters will tell members today that UK standards must not be ‘undermined’ and will warn: ‘This isn’t just about chlorinated chicken. This is about a wider principle.’