Home   News   Article

Highland MP issues warning over 'Frankenfood' imports


By Alan Hendry

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Drew Hendry: 'The threat to Scotland's food and drink industry from a Tory-Trump trade deal is growing by the day.'
Drew Hendry: 'The threat to Scotland's food and drink industry from a Tory-Trump trade deal is growing by the day.'

Highland MP Drew Hendry has warned that the threat to Scottish food and drink standards is growing after a new report revealed a wish for "agriculture liberalisation" in any new trade deal with the US.

The report by the Policy Exchange, which concludes "improving market access for US agriculture exports" will be a priority, has added to concerns about so-called "Frankenfood" imports flooding the UK market. The name includes a partial reference to Frankenstein's monster and these genetically modified products are seen as being harmful Scotland's high-quality food and drink industry.

Mr Hendry, along with SNP colleagues, recently put forward an amendment to the Trade Bill that would have seen food standards protected in any future UK-US trade deal. However, these concerns were dismissed by the UK government.

Research by Which? has shown that 72 per cent of people in the UK do not want products such as chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-fed beef to be allowed on sale in the UK.

Mr Hendry, the MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, said: "It is clear that the threat to Scotland's food and drink industry from a Tory-Trump trade deal is growing by the day – as demands to flood the UK market with low-standard Frankenfood imports like chlorine chicken, ractopamine pork and hormone-injected beef intensify.

"Alongside this, with Boris Johnson’s government plotting a power grab on the Scottish Parliament to force through these lower food and animal welfare standards, it's clear the Tories cannot be trusted to keep their promises to Scottish farmers, producers and consumers.

"The Prime Minister must rule out any attempt to roll back devolution or undermine our thriving food and drink industry, and answer the questions being put to him by farmers and producers the length and breadth of my constituency. The SNP will resist this Tory power grab all the way – and there is wide consensus among parties in the Scottish Parliament against any attack on the devolution settlement.

"The Highlands is an area where a large number of people have jobs that depend on selling high-quality food and drinks produce. They are rightly worried about the impact such a trade deal would have. It is simply not good enough for the Scottish Tories to toe the Westminster line – they must stand up for Scottish business interests.

"If anything has become clear over the last few years, it is that Scotland has been completely ignored by Westminster throughout the Brexit process and now our devolution is under attack, despite reassurances in 2014. Whatever happens, it is clearer than ever that the only way to protect our economy and our place in Europe is to become an independent country."


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More