Polish beef reportedly ‘shunned’ by supermarket shoppers

In separate letters to Asda’s chief executive officer Roger Burnley and Sainsbury’s counterpart Mike Coupe, NBA trustee Neil Shand expressed his ‘disappointment’ at their decision to import beef products during the coronavirus pandemic given the ‘plentiful supply of quality, traceable and safe home-secured produce available in the UK’.

Mr Shand questioned the safety guarantee of imported beef products, calling from the CEOS to confirm and evidence the source farms in Poland comply with the ‘same rigorous conditions that British farms must adhere to in order to supply to their respective stores’.

He went on to suggest the symbiotic relationship with British agriculture and the supermarkets requires some adaptation to the current situation to ensure the continued excellent choice of home-secured produce.

“For example, special offers on steaks and roasting joints, along with recipe cards, could help address the imbalance in the supply chain created by the closure of the restaurant sector”, he said.

“At a later date, when the crisis is over and the luxury of choice is handed back to the public, perhaps they will remember which supermarkets backed Britain. Please do not play a part in killing British agriculture. Remember, once it’s gone, it’s gone."

Copies of the letters can be found on the NBA website at www.nationalbeefassociation.com/news/