Tesco and KFC linked to illegal deforestation in UK supply chain
- Major supermarkets and fast-food chains in the UK may be purchasing chicken fed with illegally deforested soya linked to a US supplier involved in environmental controversies in Brazil.
- Investigators from Mighty Earth revealed that the UK imports a significant amount of soya for animal feed, with over 70% sourced from Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, where deforestation is prevalent.
- There is urgent need for government action to ensure responsible sourcing and to address the environmental impacts of industrial farming on ecosystems.
Recent investigations have highlighted a troubling connection between major UK supermarkets and fast-food chains and illegal deforestation activities in Brazil. Companies like Tesco, Sainsbury's, KFC, and McDonald's are at risk of inadvertently breaching new forest-protection laws due to their reliance on chickens fed with soya produced on land that has been illegally cleared. This soya is primarily sourced from Brazil, which has some of the highest deforestation rates in the world, particularly in regions like Mato Grosso, known for its rich ecosystems, including parts of the Amazon rainforest. The climate campaign organization Mighty Earth, in conjunction with AGtivist, uncovered these links, demonstrating that a significant amount of soya imported into the UK—over three million tonnes annually—contributes to environmental degradation. With approximately 90% of this soya used to feed livestock, the demand for cheap, factory-farmed chicken is perpetuating harmful agricultural practices that threaten biodiversity. Mighty Earth's report calls for immediate government intervention to align agricultural practices with environmental sustainability. It emphasizes the necessity for transparent supply chains and legal frameworks to prevent further deforestation stemming from high-protein soya production. Furthermore, industry players, including KFC, are urged to meet sustainability targets and adopt measures against sourcing from deforested regions. This situation underscores the critical intersection of climate action, corporate responsibility, and the urgent need for protective legislation in food sourcing policies.