Meat smuggling crisis risks ‘major disease outbreak’ in UK
Alarming amounts of meat and dairy products are being illegally imported to Britain for sale and personal consumption, a new EFRA Committee report has said.
Meat, Poultry & Seafood
Checks on seafood linked to human rights abuses at ‘alarmingly low levels’ in UK
UK consumers may unknowingly be buying seafood linked to human rights abuses and illegal fishing practices, according to a new report.
Wigan man pleads guilty in poultry fraud case
A 52-year-old man has pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods in a case linked to wider distribution fraud of a substantial amount of poultry.
Animal abuse exposed on trout farm in undercover footage
Undercover footage filmed on a trout farm in the Cotswolds shows fish being beaten, stepped on and left to suffocate.
Cheap food is costing the planet
Supermarkets need to prioritise sustainability and accept when this costs more, writes Nick Behari, country manager UK & IE for Vion Food UK Ltd.
DB Food Group acquired by UK retail firm
Meat wholesaler DB Food Group has been acquired by the Paramount Retail Group for an undisclosed fee.
‘Horrifying images’ at Cranswick farm show ‘abuses are no exception’
Animal welfare organisations have warned that cruelty on UK farms will continue unless concrete action is taken.
Animal cruelty exposed at another Cranswick farm after 10-month investigation
Animal cruelty has been exposed at a Cranswick pig farm in Lincolnshire where undercover investigators filmed staff for 10 months with hidden cameras.
£19M pork deal signed with Mexico
Twelve businesses across England and Northern Ireland have secured approval to export British pork to Mexico.
Charities demand legislation as salmon slaughter guidance issued by Scottish Gov
Nine animal protection charities have urged the Scottish Government to implement legislation in order to prevent suffering on fish farms.
Iceland commits to raising prawn welfare standards amid activist pressure
Iceland has announced plans to update its prawn sourcing policy amid pressure from animal welfare activists.
Thousands of chicken farmers may be in breach of law, letter warns
Chicken farmers that raise ‘Frankenchickens’ have been warned that they may be breaking the law in a letter sent by an animal protection charity.
Court permits judicial review against Defra over chicken handling law
The High Court has granted an animal welfare organisation permission to proceed with a judicial review against Defra over a policy that allows the handling of chickens by their legs.
New guidance on mechanically separated meat published
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published new guidance on mechanically separated meat to help businesses comply with food law.
Meat producer fined £140k after worker loses finger
A meat producer in the UK has been fined £140,000 after an employee lost part of his finger while at work.
Sofina Foods acquires Finnebrogue
Sofina Foods Europe has added to its portfolio with the acquisition of the Northern Ireland manufacturer for an undisclosed sum.
170,000 packs a week: Pilgrim’s Europe fires up summer meat production
Pilgrim’s Europe is ramping up meat production to cater for the increasing demand for BBQs.
Animal diseases at centre of National Biosecurity Centre investment
The UK Government has unveiled plans for a £1 billion investment in a new National Biosecurity Centre.
Kelly Turkeys invests £100k into new machinery
This forms part of a wider investment plan for 2025 for the poultry business.
KFC facing ‘summer of direct action’ over ‘Frankenchickens’ timeline
KFC is set to face a summer of protests after it ‘reneged’ on its commitment to stop the sale of meat from ‘Frankenchickens’ by 2026, an animal welfare charity has said.
FSA weighs future of meat inspection fee discount
The Food Standards discussed the future of its Meat Charging Discount Regime in its board meeting and whether these concessions will continue in the future.
Innovations in cultivated meat and seafood
As the Food Standards Agency works to complete a ‘fully safety assessment’ of two lab-produced foods, which would allow them to be sold in the UK within the next two years, UK and European patent attorney Emily Nytko-Lutz explores recent innovations made...
2 Sisters joint venture sold to Boparan Private Office
All shares in the existing farming joint venture – known as Hook2Sisters – will be sold to 2 Agriculture Holdings Limited, part of the Boparan Private Office.
Calls to ban pig cages that cause ‘senseless suffering’
The UK Government has been urged to ban the use of farrowing crates on pig farms as they ‘violate’ animal welfare laws.
Protestors storm stage at Tesco AGM over Cranswick links
Activists stormed the stage at Tesco’s AGM on Thursday (12 June) calling on the retailer to sever ties with meat processor Cranswick.
Fish farms driving environmental destruction and food insecurity, report finds
Seabass and bream farms in Europe are driving environmental destruction and depriving communities of vital food sources and livelihoods, a new report has shown.
More foreign beef hitting supermarket shelves, NFU says
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for ‘consistent action on sourcing commitments’ amid reports of more foreign beef hitting supermarket shelves in the UK.
Avara Foods CEO steps down after more than 7 years
Long-serving Avara Foods CEO Andrew Dawkins stepped down at the end of May.
Iceland hit with protest over ‘horrifying’ prawn practices
Protesters gathered outside an Iceland supermarket last week to highlight the retailer’s ‘horrifying’ treatment of prawns.
Contaminated crops cost poultry farms more than £150k annually
New research from Queen’s University Belfast has shown the financial and environmental ramifications of mycotoxins on the poultry market.
Half of UK consumers shun American beef, survey finds
About half of UK respondents to a recent survey said that they are ‘not open at all’ to purchasing US sourced beef.
Key trends in turkey meat
Kelly Turkeys revealed the biggest trends in the poult market and how UK operators can claim back lost market share as imported butterfly meat makes big dent.
Pig mutilation laws must be enforced by Defra, charity says
The Animal Law Foundation has urged the UK Government to take urgent action to prevent the mutilation of pigs on UK farms.
KFC investing £1.49bn in the UK and Ireland
KFC has revealed plans to invest £1.49 billion into restaurants and suppliers, creating more than 7,000 new jobs in the UK and Ireland over the next five years.
Shareholders support JBS dual listing plans
The Brazilian meat giant has secured minority shareholder support to list its shares in both the US and Brazil, despite concerns.
Cranswick snaps up Staffordshire sausage manufacturer for £32M
Cranswick has acquired Blakemans, amidst strong annual revenue growth and an animal welfare inquiry that has seen its share price falling,
Cranswick launching independent animal welfare review after cruelty exposed in undercover video
Cranswick has announced plans to launch an independent review of its animal welfare policies after shocking footage emerged of piglets being violently killed at ones of its farms.
Cranswick share price plummets as supermarkets suspend supply from farm over animal abuse video
Cranswick saw its share price fall by around 7% on Monday after footage emerged of piglets being violently killed using an illegal method at one of its farms.
KFC partners on limited edition Gravy Gelato
Fast food chain KFC has partnered with artisan ice cream maker Hackney Gelato to launch a limited-edition gravy flavoured gelato.
Seafood giant Thai Union sees sales take big hit
Thai Union, which owns brands including John West, has seen its first quarter sales decrease by 10.3% year-on-year.
Cranswick suspends farm after footage of piglets being violently killed emerges
Undercover footage has emerged of piglets at a Cranswick owned farm being violently killed using an illegal method.
Germany Foot and Mouth outbreak: Defra apologises for communication failures
The UK’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) has expressed concerns regarding the Government’s response to foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Germany, Hungary and Slovakia.
New Attenborough film may increase interest in plant-based fish
The new film ‘Ocean’, which will be aired on 8 May 2025, will show why ocean recovery is vital for stabilising our climate and securing a healthier future - but could it also start a new food trend?
2 Sisters owner shoots back into the black in latest financial results
Boparan Holdings has bounced back from the red in its full-year results ended 27 July 2024, as it reports a significant turnaround in profits.
UK trade deals could threaten welfare standards
The UK Government’s hunt for low- and no-tariff deals with its trading partners threatens to undermine both British values and higher welfare UK farmers, according to a new report from Animal Policy International, Compassion in World Farming and the RSPCA.
Scottish salmon industry not punished for ‘egregious incidents’, charity says
The Scottish salmon industry is not being adequately held to account for non-compliances, an animal protection charity has argued.
3,000 join legal action against Avara Foods
More than 3,000 individuals and businesses have signed up to join a group legal claim against Avara Foods.
JBS nears NYSE listing after gaining SEC approval
Meat producer JBS has had its New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listing application approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Avara Foods implements new poultry welfare strategy
Avara Foods has completed the switch to a new agriculture programme that will reduce the number of birds placed on each of farm supplying the poultry processor.
Kelly Turkeys invests £500k across business
Poultry processor Kelly Turkeys has invested £500,000 across the entire business as it looks to expand and launch a wider range of value-added products.