Time and time again investigations lay bare how everyday products made using forced labour could be found on supermarket shelves.
A BBC investigation alleges that several own-brand “Italian” tomato purees sold in UK supermarkets – Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose – appeared to contain tomatoes grown and picked in China using forced labour. China grows about a third of the world’s tomatoes. Most of these come from the Uyghur Region, where production is linked to the Chinese Government’s programme of repression and forced labour of Uyghur and other Muslim and Turkic-majority peoples.
Tests conducted by an origin verification firm for the BBC’s investigation showed that many products which claimed to contain Italian tomatoes, or gave the impression they did, appeared to contain Chinese tomatoes. However, many of the supermarkets disputed the testing methodology. Waitrose and Morrisons said they had run their own tests, which did not show the presence of Chinese tomatoes in the products.
Supermarkets hold tremendous market power and it’s high time they rise to the challenge of eliminating forced labour from their supply chains. And the first step is for them to make public the proactive processes they use to make sure goods on their shelves aren’t made using forced labour.
Ultimately, we need stronger laws in the UK against forced labour, that compel all companies in all sectors to address forced labour in supply chains. An important step in convincing lawmakers to put new laws forward is showing big business that it’s something we want. Demonstrating public demand for action is key to making this happen.
Supermarkets care about what their customers think. Please sign the petition calling on them to tell us how they’re already working to avoid forced labour in their supply chains.