So there will be chlorinated chicken in the Uk then ...

[Hermanhessescat]

According to the Independent the government is ready to open british markets to previously prohibited US products to ensure a US trade deal. They are seemingly considering allowing products like chlorinated chicken and hormone fed beef to be imported but applying tarrifs initially 'to protect uk based farmers from competition.' The tarrifs however may be only temporary and could be reduced to zero over 10 years once uk farmers have adapted to the new 'normal.' So basically the US will be able to import foodstuffs which don't comply with the same high production methods used in the uk despite michael gove and theresa villiers promising otherwise. They are already folding under the pressure of US negociators which doesn't bode well for discussions involving nhs contracts. So yet again ordinary people are sold down the river unlike boris who undoubtedly will never be served it at number 10. And even if you don't object to the concept of chlorinated chicken surely this proves yet again that this government is quite prepared just to lie.

Oh no, I don’t like the sound of that at all.
WTF is our government thinking?

As long as it's clearly labelled, surely it's a question of consumer choice?

I believe the US has 'issues' about food labelling particularly the current traffic light system with regards to sugar and fat. At the moment it consents to eu standards but this is likely to change and not necessarily favourably.

We already sell cheap battery farmed chicken and eggs produced in horrendous conditions, and halal meat which causes huge stress to animals.

As long as it's clearly labelled people can avoid it.

If you have any ready meals in your freezers, check the labels.

Many don't identify the country of origin of any meat they contain.

For me, this would mean that if the meat can't be identified as British or European, I wouldn't be buying it, but I understand that many can't afford the luxury of choice.

This is disgusting.

For me, this would mean that if the meat can't be identified as British or European, I wouldn't be buying it, but I understand that many can't afford the luxury of choice.

Vegetarian alternatives are available and often cheaper than the meat versions (which are often not high quality even now, and most people could do with cutting down on their consumption of anyway).

It will mean there will be less expensive meat options for people to buy. I do think it should be labelled so that everyone can make an informed choice

Isn’t our drinking water chlorinated?

I really don’t want this to happen. At this rate, what is the baseline?

Isn’t our drinking water chlorinated?

I don't think it is in the UK. It is fluoridated in much of England though.

Drinking water contains fluoride.

Luckily I'm vegetarian. Although, I have to contend with pesticide sprayed food and veg grown in poor quality soil. And people think they're healthy

I for one will not be buying it. To me, it’s not the chlorine itself that’s the biggest issue (it’s also used in bagged sale, although I don’t eat that either) it’s the reasons why the chlorine is used in the first place. It’s covering one disgusting problem (horrendous conditions and not very sanitary meat) with another disgusting problem (a chemical)

However, as long as it is clearly labelled and the consumer can make an informed choice then there isn’t really a problem. It will soon become clear if the public are willing to buy it all not.

What we must avoid at all costs is a scandal similar to the horse meat one where people were unknowingly consuming substandard products or indeed something totally different! Clear labelling and integrity of origin is key here!

Tap water is definitely chlorinated. It is fluoridated in some areas of the UK, but fluoridation is nowhere near as widespread as in the US.

It might be clearly labelled in the supermarket. Will it be clear that it’s chlorinated chicken being served for school dinners? In prepackaged sandwiches? Work canteens? Restaurants & cafes? Prisons? Care homes?
So many places where chlorinated chicken will be used to save money. How will British farmers be able to compete?

With everything that has happened with this pandemic I am now determined to shop locally for as much as I can and buy British. I know it is expensive however we are country of over 65 million, consumers have an impact if they make these choices.

Chickens for meat are kept abysmally. It's not the chlorine I'd worry about

Chickens for meat are kept abysmally. It's not the chlorine I'd worry about

I agree, it's not the chlorine that's the issue here. The chlorine wash is widely regarded as safe- we use it for fruit and veg. As you correctly state, the issue is the low welfare standards that necessitate the use of a chlorine wash for meat.

It’s not just about direct to consumer meat though is it - what about sandwiches, cafes, restaurants? We shouldn’t be selling meat in this country that doesn’t meet the production standards of meat reared in this country. And I don’t agree with the consumer choice argument. I’d like to see stronger legislation if favour of public health, the environment, and bioethics.

Lots of people won’t take the time to understand this. They will assume that off the government allows it that means it’s fine. And it’ll be people with already crappy diets-poor people, basically-who will suffer.

Lots of people won’t take the time to understand this. They will assume that off the government allows it that means it’s fine.

Well, it is fine from a human consumption standpoint. Just not an ethical one, if you care about animal welfare.

This has been inevitable since Brexit. It's a total non-surprise and was well reported in the press.

As long as it's clearly labelled, surely it's a question of consumer choice?

Why on Earth would it be labelled? The benefit of leaving the EI for the gov is that they now don't need to bother with pesky things like allergy labelling/food quality labelling/farm assurance labelling

Cheaper chicken yes but at what cost.The research about it is easy to find on google but I'm more concerned about the moral duplicity of the government. Gove saw it as a red line which couldn't be discussed now it's seemingly on the table. If they can backtrack on this what next ?

The independent is full of shit. Don’t believe anything that comes out of them. It’s the daily mail for lefties

Now is just not the time to be buying in to a reduction in welfare standards (and the potential impact on human health-bird flu anyone?). And I know it’s technically fit for human consumption, but you wouldn’t catch me eating something that heavily treated.

(I’m vegetarian, but if I wasn’t!)

As others have stated, it isn't the chlorine that is the issue , but the reason why it's used. We all knew this would happen though. Better off campaigning for compulsory labelling at this stage, but this won't help when it comes to such things as takeaways who will buy the cheapest possible.