Tomato purees sold as “Italian” by several UK supermarkets may contain tomatoes grown in China under forced labour conditions, a BBC probe has revealed.
Testing suggests that 17 products, including some own-brand items from major UK and German retailers, are likely to include Chinese tomatoes despite being marketed as Italian.
The investigation named Tesco, Asda, and Waitrose supermarkets, which sell products labelled as containing “Italian-grown tomatoes.”
However, researchers uncovered a link between these products and Xinjiang, a region in north-western China where forced labour involving Uyghur and other Muslim minorities has been widely reported.
China, which grows around a third of the world’s tomatoes, has rejected allegations of forced labour, insisting such accusations are “disinformation”.
Testing was undertaken by Source Certain, an Australian firm specialising in origin verification.
Their lab analysed trace elements absorbed by tomatoes from water and soil to create unique “fingerprints” for each region.
Results suggested that while many products contained Italian tomatoes, 17, including 10 produced by the Italian company Antonio Petti, may have Chinese origins. Petti supplies tomato goods to supermarkets across Europe.
Undercover footage further implicated Petti, with one manager admitting to using Chinese tomatoes and stating they could be supplied if requested.
Blue barrels labelled with a Xinjiang producer’s name were also spotted at a Petti factory. Petti has denied current purchases from Xinjiang Guannong but acknowledges sourcing from Bazhou Red Fruit, which the investigation identified as a potential shell company of Xinjiang Guannong.
In response, some supermarkets, including Tesco and Lidl, have suspended supply or withdrawn products.
Others, including Waitrose and Morrisons, disputed the findings, citing internal tests.
Lidl confirmed a short-term use of Chinese tomatoes in Germany due to supply issues but insisted it no longer uses them.
The revelations highlight the challenges in regulating global supply chains.
While the US bans Xinjiang imports, European and UK systems are reliant on self-regulation, a method criticised by NGOs like Anti-Slavery International.
Chloe Cranston, the organisation’s Head of Thematic Advocacy Programmes, said: “The UK Modern Slavery Act is utterly not fit for purpose.”
The UK government responded by underlining its opposition to forced labour and its commitment to enhancing global labour standards.
Critics have argued that more robust measures are needed to prevent such products from entering the UK market.
Journalist Dario Dongo asked: “When we see a low price, what is the true cost of this product? Who is paying for that?”
The total value of Chinese tomato products exported globally was approximately $687 million in 2019/2020.
Specific data for the UK is not readily broken out in detail, but the UK is listed among the major importing countries for tomato products worldwide.
