UK meat company 2 Sisters Food Group has announced that it is suspending operations at its West Bromwich poultry plant, following allegations in relation to food-safety and hygiene issues.
Last week, an investigation published by The Guardian and news organisation ITV alleged that a number of food-safety issues had arisen at the 2 Sisters poultry factory, which supplies chicken to top UK supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Aldi and Lidl.
Undercover footage showed workers reportedly repackaging meat that had been returned to the factory by supermarket distribution centres, returning chicken to the production line after it had been dropped on the floor, and altering records of where and when chickens were slaughtered.
Further Investigation
The latest statement from 2 Sisters noted that an independent review from the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has been in daily attendance since the allegations were raised, has not identified any breaches.
However, the company added that it is temporarily suspending operations at the plant in question, to allow time to retrain staff in all food-safety and quality-management systems.
The food group confirmed that it will continue to work closely with the FSA and will only recommence supply once it is satisfied that staff have been appropriately retrained.
Meanwhile, a number of major supermarket chains, including Tesco, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Aldi and the Co-op, confirmed over the weekend that they had suspended buying chicken from the plant while investigations are taking place.
The 2 Sisters Food Group is the UK’s second-largest food company by turnover, operating 12 production sites in the country.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
