October 11, 2020

Scottish consumers fear gov't may lift bans on chlorinated chicken, hormone-teared beef

A new survey by the consumer organisation Which? Showed that the vast majority of the Scottish public oppose the government failure to rule out lifting the bans on chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef.

The survey said 84% of Scots are concerned that the UK has not ruled out lifting the ban, The Herald reports.

Some 85% are also concerned that the government could lift such a ban without a vote in Parliament, while two thirds (62%) said they are “very concerned”.

The Scottish National Party said the findings showed "beyond any doubt" the significant public opposition to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's "reckless plans for a race to the bottom" in food standards to secure post-Brexit trade deals, as per report.

Opponents of chlorinated chicken say that without protections from such practice, it could lead to farm standards being bargained away in negotiations.

In July, MPs opposed an amendment to the Trade Bill that would keep "chlorine-washed" chicken and other poor-quality US foods out of the UK.