UK Edition
Marks & Spencer, Aldi and Lidl pull chickens supplied by 2 Sisters factory over hygiene fears
Marks & Spencer, Aldi and Lidl have pulled chickens supplied by the 2 Sisters-owned West Bromwich factory from stores after an investigation uncovered food hygiene fears.
M&S said it had “commenced an immediate investigation” into claims that workers in the factory were changing slaughter dates of poultry, potentially making them unsafe.
It added that it “will not be taking any more product from this site until [the investigation] has concluded to our satisfaction”.
Aldi said: “We have suspended supply from this site while we carry out an urgent investigation into these allegations. We expect all suppliers to adhere to the highest possible food hygiene and traceability standards at all times.”
Lidl added: “Lidl UK takes the issue of food safety extremely seriously and we were very disappointed to see the unacceptable standards shown in yesterday’s report. We immediately launched an investigation with the supplier and can confirm that we will not be sourcing from those sites until the investigations have been satisfactorily concluded”.
Tesco and Sainsbury's have also been forced to launch their own investigations into their chicken supply chain after undercover footage emerged that allegedly showed workers dropping chicken on the floor before returning it to the production line at the Midlands factory.
Recordings made in the factory also suggested portions returned by supermarket distributors were repackaged and sent out again.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Lidl all confirmed that they would be conducting checks into their poultry supply on the back of the revelations, which were uncovered by the Guardian and ITV.
They did not suggest that they would be ceasing to stock chicken from the site at this stage.
2 Sisters, which is owned by food tycoon Ranjit Boparan, is the largest supplier of poultry meat to UK supermarkets.
Mr Boparan’s empire also contains Goodfella’s frozen pizza brand, Fox’s biscuits as well as restaurant chains Harry Ramsden’s and Giraffe. Last year he bought turkey company Bernard Matthews.
It said that it took the allegations “extremely seriously”.
"If, on presentation of further evidence, it comes to light any verifiable transgressions have been made at any of our sites, we will leave no stone unturned in investigating and remedying the situation immediately,” the company said.