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Farmers have cautioned Nigel Farage against lowering the UK’s high food standards after he expressed support for allowing American chlorine-washed chicken to be sold in the UK as part of a free trade agreement with the US.
His comments come as the UK government works to negotiate a deal to avoid 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum, as well as additional reciprocal tariffs set to take effect next month.
Farage, leader of Reform UK and a close ally of Donald Trump, stated that the US president would want American agricultural products sold in Britain as part of any trade agreement, a stance that has sparked concern among farmers and consumers.
Addressing the issue of chlorine-treated chicken, Farage suggested that proper labeling would allow consumers to make their own choices. "There has been some concern about chlorine-treated chicken, but the solution is labeling—let consumers decide," he said. "This deal shouldn't just focus on avoiding tariffs; it should be broader."
When directly asked if he supported allowing chlorine-washed chicken into the UK, he responded, "I would allow American consumers to buy our products and consumers here to buy theirs. As long as we have the right labeling, that's good."
Unlike the EU, which responded to US protectionist policies with retaliatory tariffs, the UK has chosen to pursue negotiations to secure an exemption from the 25% tariffs imposed by Trump on Wednesday.
While Chancellor Rachel Reeves has previously ruled out accepting chlorinated chicken or hormone-injected beef, assuring that Labour’s position remains unchanged, the possibility of a trade agreement has reignited fears that US chlorine-treated chicken could enter the UK market. Public opposition to such imports has historically been strong.
A 2020 poll revealed that 80% of Britons opposed allowing US chicken imports, with an equal percentage rejecting hormone-fed chicken. Concerns were also raised about US pesticide use, with 79% believing that importing vegetables grown with pesticides banned in the EU but legal in the US would be unacceptable.
Under pressure from the public, former prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss had to rule out any concessions on chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef in previous trade negotiations with the US.
Liz Webster, founder of Save British Farming, criticized Farage’s stance, warning that a US trade deal could severely impact British agriculture, food security, public health, animal welfare, and environmental protections.
“The British public is rightly appalled by chlorinated chicken,” Webster told The Independent. “A US trade deal would devastate British farming. Post-Brexit labeling laws are unclear, and much of the food served in public institutions and the service sector lacks labeling altogether, despite accounting for a large portion of our national diet.
“US agriculture relies on intensive, industrial methods—many of which, including certain chemicals, are banned in the UK. We are an animal-loving nation that values high food standards, and we must not trade them away.”
