Items labeled as containing ‘Italian’ tomatoes might actually have tomatoes sourced from China, where production may involve forced labor practices.
The BBC’s examination identified 17 tomato products including purées available in UK and German grocery chains that probably contain tomatoes from China.
Among these items, six are found in Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, and Waitrose – however, the four supermarket chains contest the findings of the test results.
China holds the title as the largest producer of tomatoes worldwide, followed by the US in second place and Italy in third.
The majority of tomatoes from China are sourced from the Xinjiang region, where cultivation practices are associated with forced labor involving Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities.
The United Nations has accused China of engaging in torture and maltreatment. China refutes these claims, asserting that the rights of workers are safeguarded by legislation.
In the course of the BBC’s inquiry, interviews were conducted with 14 individuals who reported experiencing or observing forced labor in Xinjiang’s tomato fields over the last 16 years.
Quotas for tomato production reportedly reached as high as 650kg daily, with those unable to meet targets facing physical punishment, including beatings or electric shocks.
This aligns with evidence revealed in a 2022 UN report that investigated torture and forced labor in the detention centers located in Xinjiang.
It is believed that most tomatoes from Xinjiang are transported by train through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia before being shipped to Italy.
A significant portion of these tomatoes appears to have been purchased by Antonio Petti, a participant in a consortium of tomato processing companies in Italy which acquired 36 million kg of tomato paste from Chinese entities between 2020 and 2023.
An undercover journalist pretended to be a businessman intending to place a substantial order through Petti, where he was informed that Chinese tomatoes were utilized in production. Photographs of tomato barrels taken within the factory support this claim.
After analyzing 64 tomato purées – the majority of which advertised themselves as containing Italian tomatoes – the origin verification company Source Certain discerned that 17 products contained Chinese tomatoes, ten of which were produced by Petti.
Out of the ten items manufactured by Petti, six were available in UK supermarkets during the testing window from April to August 2024.
The affected products include:
- Asda Organic Tomato Puree
- Asda Tomato Puree Double Concentrate
- Tesco The Grower’s Harvest
- Tesco Italian Tomato Puree
- Morrisons Tomato Puree
- Waitrose Essential Waitrose Tomato Puree
In response, all supermarkets expressed their commitment to addressing these allegations with utmost seriousness and have conducted internal inquiries, finding no evidence of Chinese tomatoes.
Many also challenged the integrity of the testing methods applied.
Tesco halted supply, while Waitrose and Morrisons claimed to have conducted their own tests, which indicated no presence of Chinese tomatoes in their products.
A representative from the UK Department for Business and Trade stated: ‘We are unequivocally against forced labor in the supply chains of UK companies.
‘Our methods for addressing forced labor and environmental issues in supply chains are continuously evaluated, and we collaborate internationally to enhance global labor standards.’
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