Chicken scandal investigation widened at 2 Sisters

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is widening the net of its investigation that began with allegations about food safety issues at 2 Sisters’ poultry plant in West Bromwich.

An undercover report by the Guardian and ITV published claims about the activities at the site, including changing date labels on chicken products and mixing poultry of different ages.

2 Sisters suspended production a week ago at the West Bromwich factory, known as Site D, where the footage was taken and began a re-training programme for its staff. The cost of closure is reportedly £500,000 a week.

The FSA went into Site D to investigate the claims and has now decided to extend its investigations to other 2 Sisters poultry plants in England and Wales.

It said its inspection had “not identified food safety issues on these premises, but it highlighted issues requiring management attention”.

FSA chairman Heather Hancock said: “Consumers deserve food they can trust, and can be reassured that we take allegations of poor practice very seriously.

“Although our initial inspection found no risk to public health, we are broadening our investigations until we are satisfied that this is truly the case.”

2 Sisters’s UK poultry division has 13 sites around the country, including Smethwick and Wolverhampton. The division employs 7,000 people and generates around half of the group’s £3bn annual sales.

Its most recent published annual accounts, for the year to July 2016, showed pre-tax profits of £110m.

The FSA has requested footage and said it was “disappointed” that it had not been provided by ITN and the Guardian.