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| Liam Fox reopens cabinet rift with defence of chlorinated chicken | Liam Fox reopens cabinet rift with defence of chlorinated chicken |
| (3 months later) | |
| Trade secretary says there are no health arguments against consumption, despite Michael Gove’s opposition to process | |
| Dan Roberts Brexit policy editor | |
| Wed 1 Nov 2017 14.39 GMT | |
| Last modified on Wed 1 Nov 2017 19.12 GMT | |
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| Liam Fox has defended the controversial practice of disinfecting chicken with chlorine, reopening a cabinet rift over whether post-Brexit food standards should be lowered to facilitate a trade deal with the US. | Liam Fox has defended the controversial practice of disinfecting chicken with chlorine, reopening a cabinet rift over whether post-Brexit food standards should be lowered to facilitate a trade deal with the US. |
| “There are no health reasons why you couldn’t eat chickens that have been washed in chlorinated water,” the trade secretary told MPs when asked whether there was anything wrong with the process. “Most of the salads in our supermarkets are rinsed in chlorinated water,” he said. | “There are no health reasons why you couldn’t eat chickens that have been washed in chlorinated water,” the trade secretary told MPs when asked whether there was anything wrong with the process. “Most of the salads in our supermarkets are rinsed in chlorinated water,” he said. |
| Fox’s comments, at his first appearance before the House of Commons trade committee since February, come despite more recent assurances from the food and environment secretary, Michael Gove, that there were no circumstances under which chlorinated chicken would be allowed in the UK after Britain leaves the EU. | Fox’s comments, at his first appearance before the House of Commons trade committee since February, come despite more recent assurances from the food and environment secretary, Michael Gove, that there were no circumstances under which chlorinated chicken would be allowed in the UK after Britain leaves the EU. |
| Pressed on the discrepancy at a subsequent environmental audit committee on Wednesday, Gove said the cabinet remained united in its opposition to the practice, but on animal welfare standards, rather than health grounds. | Pressed on the discrepancy at a subsequent environmental audit committee on Wednesday, Gove said the cabinet remained united in its opposition to the practice, but on animal welfare standards, rather than health grounds. |
| “I don’t think Liam was asked about animal welfare standards,” he told Green MP Caroline Lucas. “[Just] because Liam didn’t say something, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t take animal welfare standards seriously.” | “I don’t think Liam was asked about animal welfare standards,” he told Green MP Caroline Lucas. “[Just] because Liam didn’t say something, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t take animal welfare standards seriously.” |
| Fox went further than simply endorsing the safety of chlorinated chicken and insisted UK consumers should be given a choice regardless of other considerations. | Fox went further than simply endorsing the safety of chlorinated chicken and insisted UK consumers should be given a choice regardless of other considerations. |
| “I have no objection to the British public being sold something that is safe as long as they know what they are eating,” the trade secretary told his committee. “I am a great believer in giving the public a choice over what they are eating so long as the scientists tell us it is safe.” | “I have no objection to the British public being sold something that is safe as long as they know what they are eating,” the trade secretary told his committee. “I am a great believer in giving the public a choice over what they are eating so long as the scientists tell us it is safe.” |
| US poultry is often washed with a strong chlorine solution to kill bacteria such as salmonella and campylobacter, which can contaminate meat during slaughter and processing. | US poultry is often washed with a strong chlorine solution to kill bacteria such as salmonella and campylobacter, which can contaminate meat during slaughter and processing. |
| The practice has been banned in the EU, which believes it encourages farmers to relax overall hygiene standards and pursue industrial rearing practices such as battery farms that are bad for animal welfare. | The practice has been banned in the EU, which believes it encourages farmers to relax overall hygiene standards and pursue industrial rearing practices such as battery farms that are bad for animal welfare. |
| Experts believe chlorine should not be toxic to humans at the levels typically used in the washing process, but it can cause carcinogens such as semicarbazide and trihalomethanes to form if the concentrations are high enough. | Experts believe chlorine should not be toxic to humans at the levels typically used in the washing process, but it can cause carcinogens such as semicarbazide and trihalomethanes to form if the concentrations are high enough. |
| “Washing the chickens in a strong chlorine solution [20-50 parts per million of chlorine] provides a brash, cost-effective method of killing any microorganisms on the surface of the bird,” said Simon Dawson, a lecturer in food safety at Cardiff Metropolitan University. | “Washing the chickens in a strong chlorine solution [20-50 parts per million of chlorine] provides a brash, cost-effective method of killing any microorganisms on the surface of the bird,” said Simon Dawson, a lecturer in food safety at Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| “Some US abattoirs and processing plants rely heavily on chlorination because their other hygiene standards are so poor that they would be illegal in Europe.” | “Some US abattoirs and processing plants rely heavily on chlorination because their other hygiene standards are so poor that they would be illegal in Europe.” |
| US agricultural lobbyists are likely to play a key role in future trade talks with the UK, as they seek ways to expand export markets by harmonising food standards. | US agricultural lobbyists are likely to play a key role in future trade talks with the UK, as they seek ways to expand export markets by harmonising food standards. |
| Fox pointed out that the US had “much lower levels of campylobacter in food than parts of Europe” as a result of its approach. | Fox pointed out that the US had “much lower levels of campylobacter in food than parts of Europe” as a result of its approach. |
| The Department for International Trade also used the hearing to pour cold water on recent suggestions that it was preparing to lower its ambitions for a deal with the US in the face of consumer concern. | The Department for International Trade also used the hearing to pour cold water on recent suggestions that it was preparing to lower its ambitions for a deal with the US in the face of consumer concern. |
| Crawford Falconer, a New Zealander now working as Britain’s chief trade negotiation adviser, said a comprehensive US trade deal remained the department’s top priority. | Crawford Falconer, a New Zealander now working as Britain’s chief trade negotiation adviser, said a comprehensive US trade deal remained the department’s top priority. |
| “As far as the content is concerned the more the better, so in general terms it will cover all goods and services,” he told MPs. “There is no reason in areas like food and beverage … we cannot have a mutually beneficial arrangement with the US.” | “As far as the content is concerned the more the better, so in general terms it will cover all goods and services,” he told MPs. “There is no reason in areas like food and beverage … we cannot have a mutually beneficial arrangement with the US.” |
| Fox conceded there would need to be more public consultation on questions such as chlorinated chicken before negotiations with the US began in earnest. | Fox conceded there would need to be more public consultation on questions such as chlorinated chicken before negotiations with the US began in earnest. |
| “I think that UK consumers will have a strong view on all future trade agreements,” he said. “We need to understand the parameters of where the public are before we get into a negotiation … it would seem to me a waste of time and effort to agree things we couldn’t sell to parliament or public.” | “I think that UK consumers will have a strong view on all future trade agreements,” he said. “We need to understand the parameters of where the public are before we get into a negotiation … it would seem to me a waste of time and effort to agree things we couldn’t sell to parliament or public.” |
| Chris Leslie, a Labour committee member and supporter of Open Britain, accused Fox of being “disgracefully complacent about the prospect of a deal with the US leading to a flood of chlorinated chicken invading our supermarkets”. | Chris Leslie, a Labour committee member and supporter of Open Britain, accused Fox of being “disgracefully complacent about the prospect of a deal with the US leading to a flood of chlorinated chicken invading our supermarkets”. |
| Trade policy | |
| Food safety | |
| Chicken | |
| Food & drink industry | |
| Brexit | |
| Farming | |
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