The government has seized frozen chicken imports from two major UK poultry suppliers as their factories might be really nasty

The Centre for Food Safety has seized frozen poultry products imported by UK poultry processors 2 Sisters Food Group and Faccenda Foods as a precautionary measure in response to allegations made by the Guardian that their hygiene practices are less than par, to be very, very nice. The Centre said that they are “very concerned” and that they’ve taken “immediate follow-up action” to verify the reports and to find out whether chicken from the two companies have ended up in Hong Kong. 

The Guardian alleges that the companies, two of Britain’s largest poultry processors, often display a completely insolent lack of regard for industry hygiene standards. Behaviour reported at 2 Sisters Food Group factories includes casually leaving chicken poop in meat, picking meat off the floor after it gets rolled over by a trolley then stepped on by a worker, and creating literal cesspools of bacteria by allowing feathers, guts and organs to form mountainous piles on the factory floor.  

Hong Kong’s Marks & Spencer’s was found to have imported frozen chicken and frozen cooked turkey from 2 Sisters Food Group, which they used in their salads and sandwiches, while Sang Yick Foods Company had imported 25 tonnes “frozen chicken paws” from them as well. Of the 1,666 cartons the latter company has imported, 103 cartons have been distributed to retailers. M&S took the initiative to take the products off their shelves. Sang Yick Foods Company also voluntarily handed over the remaining 24 tonnes of imported chicken to be marked and sealed. 

2 Sisters Food Group’s clients in the UK include Tesco, Sainsbury’s and KFC, while Faccenda’s include Nando’s. 

Jeremy Hunt, the UK Health Secretary has ordered an immediate investigation into the Guardian’s accusations to reassure the public, reports the BBC.  A spokesperson said that they’ve reviewed the Guardian’s evidence and do not believe that there is any risk to public health, but that they still want to give the public peace of mind.

Three of the UK’s largest supermarkets, Tesco’s, Marks & Spencer, and Sainsbury’s, have also launched their own investigations into their chicken suppliers following the reports.

The Guardian’s allegations are the result of a five-month investigation that produced undercover video footage, photos, and information from whistleblowers as evidence. We kind of wish they didn’t wait so long to tell everyone that they might be eating foot-trodden poop-laced meat, but we’re glad they used the time to create a solid stack of evidence against the named companies.

A major concern for regulators of the poultry industry in the UK is the prevention of the spread of Campylobacter bacteria, which is present in an astounding two thirds of fresh chicken sold in the UK. Proper cooking of the meat kills the bacteria, but 280,000 people in the UK get sick every year from ingesting it, killing 100 people every year. Despite all the marvels of modern science and medicine, the contamination rate has increased in the past 10 years.

Campylobacter bacteria is the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK and one of the biggest causes of diarrhea in the US. So we’d very much prefer if poultry processing plants didn’t create perfectly warm and cozy homes for microbes to thrive in.

Here’s a quote from Radu Ciorniciuc, the undercover Guardian reporter who worked at a 2 Sisters Food Group processing plant, and managed to keep his cool while witnessing disgusting scenes:

Next to me, a chicken that has fallen from the conveyor belt lies on the floor and is hit by a trolley and walked over by a co-worker wearing boots. The team leader picks the chicken up and, with the grace of a yoga teacher, throws it in the container placed at the end of another conveyor belt. Other workers are doing the same thing with the chickens that frequently end up on the dirty floor. Instead of the bin, they all go back into the production chain. I wonder where they will end up?

Try not to gag while watching the Guardian’s 16-minute video about their investigation:

Screenshot/Video: The Guardian via YouTube



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