Aldi, Asda among supermarkets to rule out chlorinated chicken

Campaign group 38 Degrees wrote to 11 major supermarkets amid renewed discussion around US-UK trade negotiations, arguing that allowing chlorinated chicken into the UK would be a 'red line' for consumers and could undermine food standards currently banned under UK law.

Four supermarkets - Aldi, Asda, Co-op and Waitrose - responded with unequivocal assurances. Asda said it would 'never stock' chlorinated chicken or hormone-treated beef, while Aldi reiterated its pledge to never lower standards even if the law were to change.

The Co-op said such products were 'categorically banned' from its stores, and Waitrose said it would 'remain committed to UK farmers and will not source produce from overseas industrial farming systems such as Chlorinated chicken'.

Other retailers stopped short of making permanent commitments. Iceland, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s all said they do not currently sell chlorinated chicken and have no plans to introduce it, but did not rule it out under different circumstances. Sainsbury’s said: “We do not sell chlorinated chicken or hormone-treated meat and we have no plans to do so.” Iceland said it had 'no plans' to stock the product, while Morrisons pointed out that chlorinated chicken is 'currently illegal'.

Four major supermarkets - Tesco, Marks and Spencer, Lidl and Ocado - did not issue public responses by the campaign’s deadline.

The British Retail Consortium responded on behalf of the wider sector, saying: “Retailers manage their supply chains to ensure food is produced to a standard above and beyond the legal requirements.”

The renewed focus on food standards follows concerns that future trade agreements could lead to a dilution of UK rules. Polling commissioned by 38 Degrees and carried out by Savanta found that 68% of the public oppose allowing chlorinated chicken or hormone-treated meat into the UK, even if it helps secure a major US-UK trade deal, while just 9% said they would support it.

Matthew McGregor, chief executive of 38 Degrees, said the responses showed supermarkets were being driven by customer pressure.

“British supermarkets are nothing without their customers. 102,820 of those customers have demanded a commitment that we'll never find ourselves buying chlorinated chicken when we pop into our local shop,” he said, adding: “Now we know where most supermarkets stand.”

He praised retailers that had offered firm guarantees, saying: “Aldi, Asda, Co-op and Waitrose have come through for their customers with an unequivocal red line on this issue,” but criticised others for failing to do so. “It’s disappointing to see other leading supermarkets chickening out from going so far."

McGregor said campaigners would now update supporters on which supermarkets had drawn a clear line and which had left the door open.