Despite promises and assurances to the contrary, this current Government is already proceeding with watering down protections, scrutiny and accountability around our food standards.
In this weeks Farmers Guardian a report by the Future British Standards Coalition has highlighted that, while our attention has been diverted by the pandemic, rules governing antibiotic and hormone use, as well as use of antimicrobial washes, genetically modified organisms and food additives have been moved from primary to secondary legislation, making them easier for the Government to change.
Several hundred medicines, including antibiotics which are restricted or banned from use in food producing animals have been 'removed from the UK statute book'. So that now Ministers will be able to alter the ban on chlorinated chicken without a vote in Parliament, contrary to Government promises, and have the power to alter food standards without democratic accountability or scrutiny over trade deals.
A proposed US-UK trade deal threatens progress made by UK farmers on antibiotic resistance, and in a recent report 'Maximum Growth Whatever the Cost', even if hormone treated beef were banned it would not be enough to protect UK consumers from US beef, pork and poultry that routinely use four antibiotics which have been banned in the UK for all purposes.
Whether we like it or not the shysters will literally thrust antibiotic restistance down our throats in desperation to sneak a deal in through the back door.