Chickens on supermarket shelves could be out of date

SUPERMARKETS have been warned they may be selling chicken past its useby date after the UK’S biggest supplier was found breaching food safety rules.

Workers at a factory run by 2 Sisters Food Group were found to be changing the listed date chickens were killed to artificially extend their shelf life.

An investigation by The Guardian and ITV News filmed workers mislabelling the slaughter date on poultry at the plant. The 2 Sisters Food Group produces a third of all poultry products eaten in the UK and supplies chains including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Aldi and Lidl. A number of the retailers have now launched an investigation.

Workers at the West Bromwich plant were also found to be altering the source codes on crates of chicken crowns so the poultry could not be traced.

The undercover reporter observed chicken which had fallen on the floor being returned to the production line. Chicken which had been returned by supermarkets’ distribution centres was seen being repackaged and redistributed. Meat of different ages was allegedly mixed on the production line and labelled according to the age of the freshest, rather than oldest.

The firm described the allegations as “false”. A letter from its legal adviser, Schillings, to The Guardian said: “Food safety and hygiene are 2SFG’S top priorities. To the extent that you have identified any shortcomings (which is not admitted), these could only be isolated examples which our clients would take very seriously, and they are investigating the allegations made.”