An investigation by Out to Lunch found that some chains are not serving any British meat and only Nando’s uses 100% British meat.
Popular UK restaurants have menus almost entirely made of imported meat. They are reportedly failing to support British farmers or do enough to prevent misuse of antibiotics, according to a new Soil Association investigation.
By looking at health, dining experience, and sustainability, the food and farming charity, Out to Lunch sent secret diners to put children’s menus to the test in high street chains.
The Soil Association reported that many of these popular chains have “unsustainable sourcing practices” which can be pinned to their limited traceability.
They also often buy from countries outside of both the UK and EU with limited welfare checks or antibiotic regulations.
Key examples include meat being shipped from as far as Thailand and Brazil at KFC, Pizza Hut, Pizza Express, Bella Italia, McDonald’s and TGI Friday’s.
British beef was on the menu for 12 chains and free-range British chicken was served by the league table winners, Wahaca.
British turkey was on the menu at Toby Carvery and Nando’s exclusively had all UK meat on their children’s menu.
Disappointing
Soil Association Senior Policy Officer Oona Buttafoco said: “We are disappointed to find little support for British farming across the high street.
“Restaurant chains are facing significant cost pressures, and we sympathise with the challenges they face, but we are concerned about the implications of their unsustainable meat sourcing practices.”
In addition to sourcing meat from outside the UK and EU, nearly half of the chains surveyed fail to serve 100% farm assured meat and therefore have limited traceability for their menus.
Several do not have a policy on responsible antibiotics use and only three chains – Wahaca, Brewers Fayre and KFC – were found to be serving any meat with a higher welfare guarantee, such as free-range or RSPCA.
However, most restaurants now only use free range eggs and a third of the 20 restaurants have at least one organic ingredient item on the menu.
Buttafoco said, “Businesses need to take more responsibility and government intervention is also urgently needed to help create fairer supply chains that incentivise businesses to choose products from sustainable farmers at home.”
