Cross party group of US politicians call for chlorine chicken to be included in trade talks with UK

 

The UK, as part of the EU, has long had a ban on chlorinated chicken, but now it has left the trading bloc, the US government is hoping that the UK will lift the ban.

In their letter, the Congress members referred to the ban as ‘unscientific’ and insisted that “US-produced poultry is safe” with inspections “throughout the entire poultry production process to ensure consumer safety”. The letter continues: “antimicrobial spray washes are used in the production process to improve food safety. All rinses, including chlorine, must be approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and their use is limited to specific amounts.”

The UK has published its negotiating objectives for its deal with the United States – the government says it will not compromise on ‘food standards’ but elsewhere the Prime Minister has rejected concerns about food standards as ‘mumbo jumbo’.

Sustain remains concerned that the UK government will ignore the wishes of consumers and include low standard, low welfare food in the future trade deal.

Vicki Hird, farming co-ordinator at Sustain said: “Let’s not fool ourselves, chlorine or acid washes can cover up low welfare and hygiene practices in chicken farming, that we don’t want in the UK. We need to ensure our government doesn’t lock us in to a trade deal that pegs us to low standards when we need to maintain and in some cases improve our own.”

 

The US industry letter can be read here.