Morrisons has been condemned for sourcing Chinese chicken in its own-label breaded chicken range.
Animal rights campaigners, industry groups and customers have criticised the retailer after it was revealed Chinese chicken had been used in a packet of Morrisons Hot & Spicy Breaded Chicken Tenders.
Groups warned that the decision raised questions concerning animal welfare, transparency and sustainability, as well as threatening British producers.
A customer complained on the retailer’s website that there was “no indication on the website that the chicken used in this product is from China” even though it was listed on the packet.
The shopper added: “If you want to avoid food that has been shipped from the other side of the world then this is not the product for you.”
The Grocer understands Morrisons was unable to solely rely on British chicken due to insufficient domestic supply, pointing to the impact that planning delays were having on the UK’s ability to scale up production.
“Our sourcing policy has not changed,” said a Morrisons spokesperson. “We remain 100% British on all raw own brand chicken, which includes chicken breasts and chicken fillets. In addition, we remain 100% British on our Market Street butchers’ counters.”
It comes as HMRC data has showed a significant increase in cooked chicken imports from China. Nearly 33,000 tonnes have been imported in the first half of this year alone, an increase of 61.5%, far outpacing the 44,000 tonnes imported in all of 2025.
British Poultry Council technical director Máire Burnett said the organisation was “concerned” about this continued growth in imports from China. She also questioned why it was permitted to export poultrymeat to the UK while “UK poultrymeat and genetics exports to China remain restricted”.
“This imbalance has to be addressed,” she said.
Further, Burnett said all imported poultry meat “should be expected to meet equivalent standards to those required of British producers”, a stance that was echoed by the NFU.
NFU poultry chair Will Raw has urged retailers to “back British wherever possible” as British poultry farmers ”produce high-quality, affordable and nutritious chicken which is safe and fully traceable”.
However, to do this, Raw added, “we need more space and an effective planning framework to give poultry farmers the confidence to invest for the future”.
The Grocer understands that all products, whether sourced from the UK or abroad, must meet Morrisons’ animal welfare standards.
In the meantime, Compassion in World Farming global director for food business Dr Tracey Jones has called on Morrisons to “clearly communicate these differences online, as well as on pack, so customers can make informed choices” as customers may be “surprised to learn that chicken used in processed products or as an ingredient may be sourced to different standards from a supermarket’s fresh range”.
She added that consumers were right to “care about where their food comes from”.
Burnett agreed, adding that “clearer labelling for online and foodservice would help shoppers and diners continue to make informed choices with confidence”.
It is not the first time the retailer has been under fire for its sourcing practices: it was also rebuked in June 2025 for abandoning its 100% British fresh beef commitment.
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