A BBC investigation claims that major UK supermarkets sold ‘Italian’ tomato purée with tomatoes from China, sparking controversy.
- Independent tests found Chinese tomatoes in purées from top supermarkets, challenging their authenticity claims.
- The investigation highlights forced labor concerns in Xinjiang, China, a major tomato-producing region.
- Tesco suspended its suppliers following the allegations, while others conducted their own tests with differing results.
- Waitrose and Morrisons’ tests contradict BBC’s findings, showing no Chinese tomatoes in their products.
A recent BBC investigation alleges that several leading supermarkets in the UK, including Tesco, Asda, and Waitrose, have been selling tomato purées labeled as ‘Italian’ that contain tomatoes sourced from China. This revelation has caused significant unease among consumers who trust these brands to provide authentic produce. The investigation was conducted by BBC Eye, which found that Britain’s largest supermarket chain is among those marketing ‘own-brand’ tomato purées as Italian, although the products contain tomatoes grown in both Italy and China.
It has been reported that the BBC World Service commissioned independent testing that uncovered tomatoes of Chinese origin in 17 products from various UK and German supermarket chains. These products include Essential Waitrose Tomato Purée, Asda’s Organic Tomato Purée, Tesco’s Italian Tomato Purée, and Morrisons Tomato Purée. China is recognized as one of the globe’s leading tomato producers, with many tomatoes originating from the Xinjiang province. This area has been the focus of multiple reports regarding human rights abuses and the use of forced labor involving minority groups.
Following these allegations, Tesco has immediately suspended its supply chain to address the issue. In contrast, Waitrose and Morrisons have responded by conducting their own investigations. A representative from Waitrose stated, “We were appalled to hear these serious allegations and launched an immediate investigation.” Waitrose claims to have engaged a team of food auditors and implemented isotope testing at an independent lab to verify the purée’s origins, which supposedly showed no evidence of tomatoes sourced from China. They have committed to taking swift action if any discrepancies from their strict specifications are identified.
The BBC’s findings have pushed supermarkets to critically review their supply chains and ensure transparency about product origins. Nevertheless, there appears to be a conflict between the independent testing commissioned by supermarkets like Waitrose and Morrisons and the results of the BBC’s investigation, leading to ongoing discussions about the accuracy and reliability of the findings.
The controversy underscores the importance of transparency in supply chains, leaving supermarkets to reassure consumers of product authenticity.
