Chlorine-rinsed chicken ruffles feathers ahead of trade talks

One of the stumbling blocks could be chlorine-rinsed chicken – a practice adopted in the US but banned in Europe.

The BPC, which has more than 70 UK poultry firms covering primary breeding, agriculture and processing as members, rejected any plan to accept imports of chlorine-washed chickens as part of trade negotiations.

Post-Brexit trade talks​

Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the BPC, said it was a matter of reputation on the global stage.

“The UK poultry meat industry stands committed to feeding the nation with nutritious food and any compromise on standards will not be tolerated. A secure post-Brexit deal must be about Britain’s future food security and safety.”​

BPC added it is a time when Government’s support towards British farmers and food production is needed most.

The US is Britain’s largest export market, buying more than £200bn of UK goods and services every year, according to Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary.

Tory int trade sec to start 1st talks on future trade deal between Britain&USA, is importing chlorinated chicken (banned in EU) on agenda?

— Angela Rayner MP (@AngelaRayner) July 24, 2017

Donald Schaffner, extension specialist in food science at Rutgers University and IFT member, told us chlorine is used to control microbiological contamination.

“After the birds are slaughtered, they are washed, and chlorine is used in the wash water. I know that the rules are different in Europe, and chlorine is banned for this application because of the concern about formation of chlorine break down by products,” ​he said. ​

“There are alternatives to chlorine, but they tend to be more expensive. As chlorine is allowed for use in the US, this is what the industry here tends to use.”​

Removing ban would speed up deal​

A paper from the Adam Smith Institute said removing the ban on chlorinated chicken would allow a speedy trade deal.

Putting poultry meat in chlorine dioxide solution of the strength used in the US reduces prevalence of Salmonella from 14% in controls to 2%, according to the paper.

It also claims treated American chicken is more than a fifth cheaper than British meat and would cut UK prices by 21%.

Peter Spence, author of the report​, said trade critics like to suggest that such a deal will lead to unsafe produce.

“In reality, chlorinated chicken is so harmless that even the EU's own scientific advisors have declared that it is 'of no safety concern'. European opposition to US agricultural exports has held up trade talks for years,” ​he said.

"By scrapping the ban on chlorinated chicken imports, the Government will send a signal to potential trading partners across the globe that the UK remains an open-facing and free trading nation.”​

BEUC said chemical washes aim to make up for inadequate hygiene on farms and abattoirs.

Instead of preventing chickens getting infected with pathogens during rearing and slaughter, the poultry industry has used chemicals to eliminate bacteria at the end of the meat production chain, added the European Consumer Organisation.

The EU has a ‘farm to fork’ approach which requires steps along the production chain to ensure food sold to consumers is safe.

BEUC raised concerns​ that chemical treatments might be seen as the ‘easy fix’ to clean up dirty meat during the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations.