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2 Sisters chicken supplier problems 'not one-off', say MPs | 2 Sisters chicken supplier problems 'not one-off', say MPs |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Problems at a major UK chicken supplier forced to suspend operations over hygiene concerns were "not a one-off", MPs have claimed. | Problems at a major UK chicken supplier forced to suspend operations over hygiene concerns were "not a one-off", MPs have claimed. |
A site run by the 2 Sisters Food Group in the West Midlands had a "far from pristine" past record, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said. | A site run by the 2 Sisters Food Group in the West Midlands had a "far from pristine" past record, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said. |
Its month-long inquiry also raised concerns about how the production plant was being monitored by authorities. | Its month-long inquiry also raised concerns about how the production plant was being monitored by authorities. |
2 Sisters, which has 12 UK sites, said it took safety "extremely seriously". | 2 Sisters, which has 12 UK sites, said it took safety "extremely seriously". |
Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Lidl and The Co-op stopped taking chickens from the West Bromwich site after the Guardian and ITV News claimed workers were changing the slaughter dates to extend the shelf life of meat. | Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Lidl and The Co-op stopped taking chickens from the West Bromwich site after the Guardian and ITV News claimed workers were changing the slaughter dates to extend the shelf life of meat. |
Undercover reporters also alleged workers were repackaging chicken portions that had been returned by supermarkets - before sending them out to other retailers. | Undercover reporters also alleged workers were repackaging chicken portions that had been returned by supermarkets - before sending them out to other retailers. |
MPs said their investigation looked at the "apparently patchwork" nature of the industry's accreditation process and how the 2 Sisters site had been checked for quality, rather than whether it breached food standards. | MPs said their investigation looked at the "apparently patchwork" nature of the industry's accreditation process and how the 2 Sisters site had been checked for quality, rather than whether it breached food standards. |
MPs also looked at the role and performance of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Sandwell Metropolitan Council and other bodies. | MPs also looked at the role and performance of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Sandwell Metropolitan Council and other bodies. |
Committee chairman Neil Parish said the inquiry should act as a "wake-up call" for food accreditation firms to "improve their processes". | Committee chairman Neil Parish said the inquiry should act as a "wake-up call" for food accreditation firms to "improve their processes". |
He said: "Food supply chains are sensitive and easy to disrupt when retailers and consumers lose confidence in food quality or safety. | He said: "Food supply chains are sensitive and easy to disrupt when retailers and consumers lose confidence in food quality or safety. |
"Large producers and retailers have a responsibility to protect, rather than undermine, the UK's food producers." | "Large producers and retailers have a responsibility to protect, rather than undermine, the UK's food producers." |
'Surprise' inspections | 'Surprise' inspections |
The report said it was easy for processors to "game the system and hide infractions" from inspectors - for example by opting out of unannounced visits by accreditors. | The report said it was easy for processors to "game the system and hide infractions" from inspectors - for example by opting out of unannounced visits by accreditors. |
MPs said even unannounced visits were not truly a "surprise", because workers were given about 30 minutes and so they tend to be on their "best behaviour". | MPs said even unannounced visits were not truly a "surprise", because workers were given about 30 minutes and so they tend to be on their "best behaviour". |
The inquiry found that Assured Food Standards, which licenses the Red Tractor quality mark, did not "immediately and especially" inform the FSA when it briefly suspended the 2 Sisters accreditation between 2 and 9 October. | The inquiry found that Assured Food Standards, which licenses the Red Tractor quality mark, did not "immediately and especially" inform the FSA when it briefly suspended the 2 Sisters accreditation between 2 and 9 October. |
Ranjit Singh Boparan, 2 Sisters' chief executive, wrote to MPs, promising that he would make a number of changes - including placing a full-time FSA inspector at all plants. | Ranjit Singh Boparan, 2 Sisters' chief executive, wrote to MPs, promising that he would make a number of changes - including placing a full-time FSA inspector at all plants. |
He also invited the committee to visit a 2 Sisters Food Group plant, unannounced if members wished. | He also invited the committee to visit a 2 Sisters Food Group plant, unannounced if members wished. |
He said he would install CCTV with complete coverage in all plants within 120 days, and put "mystery workers" into all factories by the end of January 2018. | He said he would install CCTV with complete coverage in all plants within 120 days, and put "mystery workers" into all factories by the end of January 2018. |
The committee's report concluded: "The problems identified at the 2 Sisters plant at West Bromwich were not a one-off." | The committee's report concluded: "The problems identified at the 2 Sisters plant at West Bromwich were not a one-off." |
It added: "The past record of the 2 Sisters Food Group is far from pristine and there are valid questions to be asked of its corporate governance structure." | It added: "The past record of the 2 Sisters Food Group is far from pristine and there are valid questions to be asked of its corporate governance structure." |
The FSA's own investigation into the firm has been widened to 2 Sisters' poultry operations across England and Wales, which process about six million chickens a week, with Food Standards Scotland looking at its Coupar Angus site. |
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