O/T:- Is this the Brexit deal you wanted?

[sidders]

As an animal lover and a 'healthy eater' the item below (lifted from today's Guardian) appalled me. Would YOU be prepared to involve your MP if this trade deal becomes a reality?

US hens have half the living space of UK birds and are dipped in chlorinated water after slaughter to kill bacteria growing on them as a result of the birds “literally sitting in each other’s waste”, according to a new video being launched today by the RSPCA.

Aiming to highlight the welfare differences between US and UK farm animals as trade talks resume between the two countries in September, the UK’s largest animal welfare charity is taking the unusual step of releasing a video that “exposes the realities of animal welfare” and warns consumers against US dairy, egg and meat imports.

Examples of US-UK welfare differences identified by the RSPCA include the absence of US federal laws protecting chicken or turkey welfare, US egg hens having only about half the living space of UK hens, and only 5% of US laying hens being free range compared to 52% in the UK.


From farm to factory: the unstoppable rise of American chicken
Read more
For pigs, the UK banned sow stalls in 1999 while major US pig producing states still use them. “Sow stalls leave pigs very little space [and] prevent them from even turning around,” the RSPCA said, while US beef cattle “can be treated with hormones which have been banned by the EU.”

The 2019 UK Conservative party manifesto pledged it would “not compromise” Britain’s “high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards”. In June however, Downing Street was accused of reopening the door to imports of chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef, after a leaked memo instructed ministers to have “no specific policy” on animal welfare in US trade talks.

[deadyoyomagpie]

I have no problem with the government allowing imports of chickens from the USA, with one massive proviso. They must be clearly labled as being produce of the USA. Not just on supermarkets shelves, but also on restaurant menus. As long as the public can make their own minds up, it's not a problem. I know I won't touch the stuff, for the reasons given above, but we shouldn't let this issue scupper a trade deal. If everyone is well enough informed by charities such as the RSPCA and no doubt others, then it wouldn't be long until the Americans gave up flying the things here (hopefully).

[magpie_mania]

I have no problem with the government allowing imports of chickens from the USA, with one massive proviso. They must be clearly labled as being produce of the USA. Not just on supermarkets shelves, but also on restaurant menus. As long as the public can make their own minds up, it's not a problem. I know I won't touch the stuff, for the reasons given above, but we shouldn't let this issue scupper a trade deal. If everyone is well enough informed by charities such as the RSPCA and no doubt others, then it wouldn't be long until the Americans gave up flying the things here (hopefully).

And you think that would happen?

Take Oldham, worst for Covid infections yet 9/10 pubs were not taking any details for tracing. If they aren't prepared to do that, why would they bother telling you it is USA chicken? Profit will always be number 1 priority.

[deadyoyomagpie]

And you think that would happen?

Take Oldham, worst for Covid infections yet 9/10 pubs were not taking any details for tracing. If they aren't prepared to do that, why would they bother telling you it is USA chicken? Profit will always be number 1 priority.

That's an issue of law enforcement, not 5h!t chicken.

[BigFatPie]

I have no problem with the government allowing imports of chickens from the USA, with one massive proviso. They must be clearly labled as being produce of the USA. Not just on supermarkets shelves, but also on restaurant menus. As long as the public can make their own minds up, it's not a problem. I know I won't touch the stuff, for the reasons given above, but we shouldn't let this issue scupper a trade deal. If everyone is well enough informed by charities such as the RSPCA and no doubt others, then it wouldn't be long until the Americans gave up flying the things here (hopefully).

If you think the Americans will allow their crap, cruel, sh!ttily produced chicken to be labelled, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

Edit; Or any other of the crap they plan to bring over here as part of the trade deal we’ll be bent over and forced to accept.

Still, when we get food poisoning or any other illness we’ll be able to buy US produced drugs at vastly inflated prices which they’ll also insist upon as part of a trade deal. At least we’ve got someone as capable as *checks* Liz Truss in charge of negotiation so we’ll be fine.

[drillerpie]

I have no problem with the government allowing imports of chickens from the USA, with one massive proviso. They must be clearly labled as being produce of the USA. Not just on supermarkets shelves, but also on restaurant menus. As long as the public can make their own minds up, it's not a problem. I know I won't touch the stuff, for the reasons given above, but we shouldn't let this issue scupper a trade deal. If everyone is well enough informed by charities such as the RSPCA and no doubt others, then it wouldn't be long until the Americans gave up flying the things here (hopefully).

Don't think that will work and also doesn't help much from the chicken's perspective.

[Elite_Pie]

Seeing as Brexit is included in the topic title, I would say one of the best things the EU have done is to raise food standards across member states. When I first took a self-catering holiday in Europe 40 years ago any sort of fresh meat from a shop was high risk, you could end up spending most of your holiday on the bog. Completely different now thanks to the EU, a self-catering holiday in EU countries these days means that delicious fresh meat, seafood, fruit and veg can be bought to the standards we are used to but generally much fresher and cheaper. Despite this very creditable improvement, how did The Sun report it? They made it a headline thing that the horrible EU wouldn't allow us to eat bendy bananas! It was a complete lie of course, but the usual gammon types went even pinker with rage when they read it.

[Woodypie]

As an animal lover and a 'healthy eater' the item below (lifted from today's Guardian) appalled me. Would YOU be prepared to involve your MP if this trade deal becomes a reality?

US hens have half the living space of UK birds and are dipped in chlorinated water after slaughter to kill bacteria growing on them as a result of the birds “literally sitting in each other’s waste”, according to a new video being launched today by the RSPCA.

Aiming to highlight the welfare differences between US and UK farm animals as trade talks resume between the two countries in September, the UK’s largest animal welfare charity is taking the unusual step of releasing a video that “exposes the realities of animal welfare” and warns consumers against US dairy, egg and meat imports.

Examples of US-UK welfare differences identified by the RSPCA include the absence of US federal laws protecting chicken or turkey welfare, US egg hens having only about half the living space of UK hens, and only 5% of US laying hens being free range compared to 52% in the UK.


From farm to factory: the unstoppable rise of American chicken
Read more
For pigs, the UK banned sow stalls in 1999 while major US pig producing states still use them. “Sow stalls leave pigs very little space [and] prevent them from even turning around,” the RSPCA said, while US beef cattle “can be treated with hormones which have been banned by the EU.”

The 2019 UK Conservative party manifesto pledged it would “not compromise” Britain’s “high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards”. In June however, Downing Street was accused of reopening the door to imports of chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef, after a leaked memo instructed ministers to have “no specific policy” on animal welfare in US trade talks.

No, didn't vote for Brexit. Didn't vote for a Brexit Deal.

[deadyoyomagpie]

Don't think that will work and also doesn't help much from the chicken's perspective.

Why don't you think this could work? Wouldn't you agree that the UK has one of the highest standard food labelling in the world?

Agree about the chicken's perspective. Let me be clear, I do not support the USA's standard on farming chickens which is clearly (more) cruel than our standard. I wouldn't touch a US produced chicken.

My point was that whether you voted Brexit or not, like Trump or not, like the USA or not, we are where we are and we need a trade deal with them. If it's take our chickens or leave it, I think we're in the position where we mitigate the risks of their imports but reluctantly must take them.

[Elite_Pie]

Why don't you think this could work? Wouldn't you agree that the UK has one of the highest standard food labelling in the world?

I would agree about the high standards when we were under EU rules, because those standards were definitely raised across the group. You seem to suggest that the UK may have to lower them in order to get a trade deal with the US. How many Brexiteers voted for lower food standards?