Planning to buy your Christmas turkey from a major supermarket chain?
It could be time for a rethink, following reports that many supermarket turkeys contain dangerous levels of toxic chemicals.
Independent laboratory tests were carried out on the meat and the wrapping from products sold at Tesco, Sainsbury, Marks and Spencer, Waitrose and Asda. Apart from the turkey at Waitrose, all the others contained nonylphenol, a toxic chemical which can interfere with human DNA and effect sperm production in mammals. Quantities of phthalates, which can cause liver, kidney and testicular damage, were also detected.
In addition the Sainsbury and Tesco turkeys contained the toxic chemical bisphenol A, which has been shown to cause genetic damage to mammals and is known to mimic hormones. The EU has recently ordered a drastic reduction in the maximum amount of bisphenol A used in food packaging amid growing health concerns.
The report concluded that the dangerous chemicals used in the wrapping had migrated to the food, and identified Sainsbury as the worst toxic turkey trader, with the highest levels of dangerous chemicals in its product. Marks and Spencer and Asda took joint second place, followed by Tesco. Turkey from Waitrose proved to be toxic-free, containing no measurable traces of hazardous chemicals.
Mark Strutt, Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner, said: "It's entirely unacceptable for supermarkets like Sainsbury and Asda to be selling these toxic turkeys stuffed with hazardous chemicals.
"The fact that Waitrose turkeys show no sign of these chemicals proves that there are perfectly safe alternatives to these chemicals, and all supermarkets should be using them rather than peddling polluted poultry.
"Clearly we cannot rely on retailers to ensure we don't end up eating hazardous chemicals. It's about time the Government outlawed these unnecessary harmful substances."
The products tested were Tesco Turkey Breast Fillet, Sainsbury Fresh British Turkey Breast Fillet, Marks and Spencer Oakham White Mini Chicken, Waitrose Fresh Turkey Breasts and Asda Turkey Escalopes.
