Stunt at Tesco highlights UK–US trade deal food fears
19th February 2026
Campaigners from the 38 Degrees group staged a stunt outside a Tesco store in London, seeking reassurance that the retailer will never stock chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated meat amid further UK-US trade deal concerns.
The stunt that happened yesterday, 18th February, featured actor and presenter Adam Brichto in a giant chicken costume alongside a spoof billboard van.
The campaigning group said that the demonstration highlighted that Tesco was yet to respond to the issue brought up by 38 Degrees, despite over 130,000 people signing a petition demanding that the ‘Big Ten’ supermarkets veto products like chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef.
38 Degrees also added that, in a wave of direct action, 2,804 of its supporters sent personal emails to the CEOs of supermarkets that have so far failed to commit to a total ban, including 928 to Tesco boss Ken Murphy.
While speaking to Farmers Guide today, Veronica Hawking, campaigns director at 38 Degrees, confirmed that Tesco responded to the group’s concerns.
“The big problem is that they – along with several other supermarkets – have only said they have ‘no plans’ to stock chlorinated chicken, rather than full commitments to never stock it.
“This simply isn’t good enough for customers: it’s time these supermarket giants gave the public an iron-cast ‘never’ on low-quality meat.”
‘This is a longstanding commitment’
A Tesco spokesperson told Farmers Guide that its Tesco Standards and Tesco Welfare Standards clearly prohibit the retailer from using chlorinated chicken or hormone-fed beef in its own brand products.
“This is a longstanding commitment. All of our fresh chicken and beef is sourced from British farms across the UK and Ireland, and we’re proud to be British agriculture’s largest customer, supporting thousands of farmers all year round,” they added.
READ MORE: Farmers to stage national supermarket protest
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