"The documents confirm that high-level briefings were prepared for a meeting between a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) director and the US embassy in London on or around 4 December 2025, during the trade deal talks."
"In the US, farmers are allowed to use chlorine washes and other disinfectants to remove harmful bacteria that may have infected chickens during rearing and slaughter."
"There are concerns that chlorine may compensate or mask poorer hygiene and animal welfare standards earlier in the food chain."
"The White House adviser Peter Navarro at the same time called sanitary standards a phoney tool used to suppress what is very fine American agricultural product and said the market should decide."
British officials were briefed on the potential acceptance of chemical-washed chicken in the UK before a meeting with the US embassy. The Food Standards Agency is reviewing US studies on bacteriophage washing methods, including chlorine dioxide. Despite US pressure during trade talks, UK ministers have denied plans to permit such practices. The EU banned chlorine washes in 1997, raising concerns about hygiene and animal welfare. High-level briefings indicated that changing standards for chemical-washed chicken was possible, reflecting ongoing tensions in trade negotiations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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