‘Many people are concerned about “cheap” chicken available in the supermarkets. Often, these chickens have been kept in inhumane conditions – squashed together in squalid cages with no natural light – and fed a diet with excesses of growth hormones and antibiotics.
But what happens once these birds are killed? We are aware some companies pump up the flesh by injecting water and a chemical cocktail into it. Latest findings show that what is actually happening, particularly in establishments that purchase cheap chicken in bulk (often Indian and Chinese restaurants), is that this chemical cocktail might include beef and pork waste products. Not only are there health issues about the substances being injected into our food without our knowledge, but many people are unknowingly eating beef and pork products when their religion specifically prohibits them from doing so. This makes it also a human rights issue.
There are three production plants that treat chicken meat in this way – two in the UK and one on the continent. The Food Standrds Agency has been aware of these practices for many years. Calls are now being made for the agency to take immediate action to protect consumers against such deception.