“Meat lab” by UGA CAES/Extension is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

As the UK leaves, the UN talks about food trade with the US have stirred up a lot of controversies. Currently, as a part of the UN, the UK has higher food regulations than the US. However, the US is insisting that the UK accept food from the US that is currently not allowed in the UK, including chlorinated chicken (BBC, 2020). Accepting these terms could lead to similar US food practices in the UK.

In the UK, chicken can not be cleaned in a chlorine bath, which consists of putting the chicken into water containing chlorine dioxide. Most research states that it is safe for humans to consume chlorinated chicken because the amounts of chlorine are too low to cause harm. However, it has been discovered that the level of chlorine in the chicken is not always regulated (Chapman, 2019). Chlorinated chicken has other problems as well, some that negatively impact the environment. Including, harm to sea life and sewage works that come in contact with the chlorine waste that is released (Dmitracova, 2019). Containment of the animals is also an environmental factor to be considered.

Because chicken in the UK can not be cleaned in chlorine, the standards of care for the animal are much better in order to keep the chicken healthy. Animals are given more spaces here which reduces disease. In the US, animals can be tightly contained leading to disease which can eventually spread and affect other creatures (Dmitracova, 2019). Spreading of a disease can have a very negative impact on the environment because it can significantly reduce the population of one species, which can lead to a spiral effect.

Having chemicals in meat also allows for it to appear fresher longer than it should, this is the same in other food, such as bread and vegetables. This allows for food to be transported further (Chapman, 2019). The harmful emission released from transporting meat is very high because the food must be kept in refrigerated trucks. Without chemicals in the meat or genitally modified fruit, the UK can not transport food as far, meaning they are releasing less harmful emissions.

Just because the UK isn’t using chemicals to clean poultry does not mean their food isn’t causing harm to the environment. Grocery stores here package all of their meat in small plastic containers. According to National Geographic over 40 percent of plastic is from food packaging that is used once and thrown away (2018). To make the situation worse, only one-third of food packaging is recycled in the UK (Forrest, 2018). However, in the US, when I go to my grocery store the meat is not stored in plastic packing, but rather in a meat counter. The meat I pick out is then wrapped in a biodegradable paper, that is better than the environment than plastic.

In all, the US has food practices that bring up ethical and safety questions. The research behind many of these question has led to not support a trade deal between the UK and the US that would allow for chemically modified meat in the UK. I support the UK’s view because it is less harmful to the environment and the livestock. Having a better understanding of both US and UK food policies, I believe that both countries could learn from each other how to make their food activities more environmentally friendly.

BBC. (2020). UK says food standards will not be lowered for US trade deal. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47418505

Chapman, B. (2019, March). Independent: Is chlorinated chicken bad for our health and the environment?. Retrieved from: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/is-chlorinated-chicken-bad-for-our-health-and-the-environment-a7860866.html

Dmitracova, O. (2019, August). Independent: UK to accept US food standards, including chlorination and GM, in any trade deal. Retrieved from: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/uk-us-trade-deal-food-standards-chlorinated-chicken-gm-brexit-a9060876.html

Forrest, A. (2018, August). Independence: Only one third of UK’s plastic food packaging is recycled, study finds. Retrieved from: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/uk-plastic-food-packaging-recyclable-third-government-study-a8476431.html

Parker, L. (2018, December). National Geographic: Planet or plastic?. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/05/plastics-facts-infographics-ocean-pollution/