The Welsh Conservatives have criticised the import of frozen chicken from Thailand and China to feed our school children as part of Plaid Cymru and Labour’s Free School Meal initiative.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Natasha Asghar MS, said:
“Food for our children should be sourced within Wales wherever possible, boosting our rural economy and ensuring meals can be fully traced from farm to plate.
“Local authorities should be supporting Welsh farmers and producers, not shipping frozen chicken halfway around the world.
“The Welsh Conservatives have repeatedly called for schools to buy British when catering for pupils. The current approach undermines food security, and raises serious questions about sustainability, value for money and the standards being delivered to our children.”
Also commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS, said:
“Welsh farmers are being undercut here, local authorities should buy British instead.
“Plaid and Labour are importing frozen chicken from thousands of miles away while Reform would prioritise chlorinated chicken from the US.
“Using locally sourced Welsh produce would strengthen farm incomes, support rural jobs, shorten supply chains and give councils greater confidence in quality, animal welfare and traceability.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Chicken in many school dinners imported from China and Thailand
