27:
559:
506:
In August 2023, chickens at a Red
Tractor assured farm were found "collapsing in agony, deformed and dying" at farms supplying the Co-op supermarket chain. Hidden cameras showed workers tossing hundreds of dead chickens into bins, in one case laughing and saying "I’ve never seen so many maggots in my
407:
In August 2019, Hogwood Farm in
Warwickshire was suspended from the Red Tractor scheme after videos obtained by animal rights charity Viva! emerged showing "terrified pigs struck with metal riding crops and hand tools" and "dead pigs dumped into rotting piles". Tesco suspended their relationship with
510:
In
November 2023, animal rights charity Viva captured footage at a Red Tractor assured dairy farm in Wales. Corpses of cows were seen being dragged outside the complex including one that was half-eaten. An animal welfare scientist who viewed parts of the footage said some of the allegations were
498:
In
January 2023, an investigation by Viva! found cows that were emaciated, lame and struggling to walk on a Red Tractor approved farm that supplies Costa Coffee. The animals were handled roughly, with one being hit in the udder and others being slapped or having their heads pushed.
430:
In June 2021, footage was filmed at a pig farm in
Yorkshire showing dying pigs left to rot among living and workers kicking animals too crippled to stand. The farm was removed from the Red Tractor schema and dropped by Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons.
502:
In March 2023, footage emerged showing farmers kicking and slapping pigs at a Red tractor assured farm. The animals were being cannibalised alive with farmers taking up to 13 hours to remove dead ones from sheds. Bins were filled with rotting pig corpses.
473:
In July 2022, an article published in The
Independent alleged goats where being subjected to "violence and neglect" under the Red Tractor label. Hidden cameras captured goats so lame they were unable to walk and piles of dead goats left to rot outside a
458:
In May 2022, the animal rights charity Viva! placed hidden cameras in a Red
Tractor assured duck farm operated by Quack Duck Eggs. Released footage showed workers abusing ducks, as well as infestations of rodents and maggots. In response to the footage
361:
The mark does not offer any guarantee the products have been produced in an environmentally sustainable way. The scheme's website notes that farmers only use products like pesticides and fertilisers if this is "absolutely necessary" for crop health.
348:
in the UK. This is in contrast to a simple union flag logo without the Red
Tractor, which is often used to simply denote UK based processing. A BBC investigation in 2013 revealed that there was a less than 1 per cent chance that a pack of
434:
In July 2021, secret cameras captured chickens that had died of thirst and dead birds left to rot at three Red
Tractor approved sites. The chickens were being supplied for major British retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury, Lidl and KFC.
411:
In August 2020 a pig farm in
Leicestershire was dropped from the Red Tractor scheme after undercover footage showed sick pigs being left to die, painful conditions that had been left untreated and others with acute malnutrition.
426:
went undercover at a Moy Park chicken site. They found birds with "horrific injuries" and guidance issued to kill chicks deemed "lame" or "too small". Over 4000 chicks died or were culled during the 11 days of filming.
395:
were found to be keeping animals in "utterly dismal conditions" where chicken carcasses were left to rot in sheds holding up to 30,000 birds. The farms, which supply meat to major British supermarkets like
495:
In December 2022, footage shared with The Independent showed pigs that were "given electric shocks, hit, kicked and thrown as they were loaded onto lorries" at several Red Tractor assured farms.
1137:
485:. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was "deeply concerned" about the issue and that the sheer scale of the mortalities had prompted an investigation by officials.
481:
In August 2022, industry whistle-blowers claimed millions of Red Tractor assured factory farm chickens had "died slowly of heat exhaustion" after inadequate ventilation and cooling during the
344:
displayed as part of the Red Tractor logo gives a guarantee that the produce was farmed, processed and packed in the United Kingdom. To qualify as "farmed", animals must be born, reared and
489:
1326:
288:
Processed Vegetable Growers' Association Red Tractor cover an extensive range of products, including meat and poultry, dairy products, breakfast cereals, and fruit and vegetables.
1296:
388:
In July 2018 several UK media publications revealed serious cases of animal abuses at several farms that had passed recent inspections by the Assured Food Standards scheme.
380:
According to an internal government report seen by The Times, Red Tractor farms were 'more likely' to pollute the environment than those that were not part of the scheme.
415:
In September 2020, an investigation into a chicken farm that supplied Tesco found fast growing birds that were in chronic pain and others that could barely stand up.
1321:
86:
101:
488:
In October 2022, The Belfast Telegraph reported a Red Tractor assured pig farm was facing 3 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals. An inspection by
1301:
766:
192:
228:
All stages of food production are independently certified (inspected) to the Red Tractor standards before food can be labelled with the Red Tractor logo.
201:
In 2005, the organisation kept its Red Tractor quality mark, but was renamed from "British Farm Standard" to the "Assured Food Standards". The company is
1331:
597:
1011:
785:
1173:
198:
Around the time of the launch, the NFU found in a survey that 70% of the public had no idea what type of food their local farmers tended to produce.
1101:
861:
1336:
466:
In June 2022, an as yet unknown disease emerged in pigs at a Red Tractor assured farm in Norfolk. Covert drone footage captured by energy firm
370:
91:
842:
608:
546:
202:
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found conditions to be unsanitary with pigs living in their own feces and several dead piglets that had succumbed to bacteria infections.
993:
455:. Farmers were filmed beating cows with spades, dragging lame cows out of sheds using tractors and separating calves from their mothers.
1311:
1316:
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1223:
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1029:
975:
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195:, with the logo originally known as the Little Red Tractor, and also the British Farm Standard. It was launched on 13 June 2000.
373:
tested several Red Tractor approved pork products including joints, chops and mince. Ten percent were found to be infected with
1155:
451:
318:
1083:
740:
482:
327:
697:
419:, which owns the farm, said an internal investigation was carried out which "didn't highlight any welfare concerns".
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423:
116:
111:
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bacteria "that has showed resistance to a “last resort” antibiotic used to treat serious illnesses in humans".
259:
684:
96:
1306:
277:
267:
270:
will produce poultry meat to the Red Tractor standard, meaning they are kept in more humane surroundings.)
45:
520:
929:
439:
1066:"Lincolnshire Co-op suspends purchase of Quack Duck Eggs after "disturbing" footage released online"
470:
showed farm workers shooting at disease ridden pigs with many animals dying in front of each other.
1012:"Chickens died of thirst and dead birds left to rot at suppliers to Tesco, Sainsbury, Lidl and KFC"
312:
957:
551:
525:
172:
994:"Supermarkets suspend farm where workers kicked pigs and dying animals left to rot among living"
943:
1120:"'Carnage' as millions of factory farm chickens die in sweltering sheds during record heatwave"
915:
871:
793:
295:
216:
produced the first lager, Cains Export, to be accredited by the Red Tractor. Since June 2010,
106:
1102:"Goats 'shoved and neglected' at show farm that supplies M&S, Ocado, Asda and Morrisons"
534:
345:
75:
Food producers, processors, contract caterers, wholesalers, food service and 78,000 farmers
728:
442:
found "dead and wounded" turkeys amongst living ones at a farm that supplies Sainsbury's.
299:
281:
263:
142:
1138:"Ballymena pig farm facing animal welfare charges queries motive behind vet's inspection"
475:
401:
176:
26:
1174:"Cows on dairy giant farm that supplies chains across UK found 'in filthy conditions'"
1290:
308:
209:
1224:"Secret footage reveals chickens collapsing 'in agony' at farms for 'ethical' Co-op"
786:"The government is looking the other way while Britain's rivers die before our eyes"
366:
180:
635:
659:
563:
416:
374:
1200:"Grim lives of farmed pigs forced to live in squalor and left for hours to die"
744:
445:
In late 2021, undercover footage was shot on a Red Tractor assured farm by the
467:
460:
341:
304:
220:
cans of lager have displayed the logo, as the barley used has been certified.
875:
797:
1030:"Dead and wounded turkeys found among living at farm linked to supermarkets"
900:
866:
540:
334:
213:
767:"It's all Double Dutch at Tesco as 'British' pork chops come from overseas"
701:
179:
programme for food products, animal feed and fertiliser. Multiple cases of
529:
392:
205:
and permitted to operate without the word "limited" in its company name.
1281:
322:
231:
The Red Tractor Farm Assurance scheme is divided in different sectors:
217:
165:
558:
333:
In 2009, around £10 billion of products were sold bearing the logo. A
721:
256:
1048:"Farmers beat cows with spades in disturbing BBC Panorama episode"
397:
350:
250:
1156:"Piglets at RSPCA-backed farms 'kicked, thrown and electrocuted'"
817:
1250:"Shocking footage shows 'half-eaten dead cows' at UK dairy farm"
291:
Certification bodies the Red Tractor schemes work with include:
274:
1276:
391:
In June 2019, three poultry farms in Lincolnshire belonging to
153:
446:
944:"Flat House Farm pigs filmed living in 'barbaric conditions'"
598:"Understanding the NFU - an English Agribusiness Lobby-group"
660:"BBC News | UK | New logo guarantees food quality"
353:
pork chops labelled as British came from the British Isles.
916:"Chickens 'left to rot' at major supplier Moy Park's farms"
16:
Owner of the Red Tractor quality mark in the United Kingdom
930:"Tesco drops pork farm over 'distressing' undercover film"
239:
511:‘concerning’ and ‘common to the dairy farming industry’.
1282:
Red Tractor Assurance and Farm and Processor information
862:"Red Tractor farms 'more likely to pollute environment'"
490:
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
245:
958:"Animal charity raises concerns over 'frankenchickens'"
1084:"Probe launched into farm's shooting of diseased pigs"
596:
Harrison, Rob; Berry, Hannah; Strange, Ruth (2016).
843:"Deadly superbug found in British supermarket pork"
404:, were all certified under the Red Tractor scheme.
191:The Red Tractor scheme was launched in 2000 by the
149:
135:
125:
79:
69:
59:
51:
41:
33:
183:have been reported on Red Tractor assured farms.
896:"Farm animals tortured under red tractor label"
685:Assured Food Standards: Company number 04913846
1327:Organisations based in the City of Westminster
860:Cutcher, Nicola; Blakely, Rhys (2023-11-23).
543:– certificates sugar claims in food and drink
8:
242:- former National Dairy Farm Assured Scheme)
87:National Farmers' Union of England and Wales
19:
1297:Agricultural organisations based in England
438:In October 2021, the animal rights charity
193:National Farmers Union of England and Wales
976:"The Truth About Your Chicken: Dispatches"
818:"Frequently Asked Questions | Red Tractor"
741:"Know your logos - Assured Food Standards"
18:
319:Northern Ireland Food Chain Certification
575:
365:In July 2022, a joint investigation by
1322:Industry trade groups based in England
847:The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
371:The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
609:Ethical Consumer Research Association
7:
1302:British food and drink organisations
630:
628:
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624:
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591:
589:
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583:
581:
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547:United Kingdom Accreditation Service
449:'s investigative documentary series
328:Product Authentication International
765:Hawkes, Steve (16 September 2013).
537:– certificates British organic food
235:Pigs - 90% of British pig producers
92:National Farmers' Union of Scotland
65:England, Northern Ireland and Wales
636:"Who We Are: The Red Tractor Team"
463:suspended the farm as a supplier.
164:is a United Kingdom company which
14:
1332:Organizations established in 2000
557:
25:
275:Assured Combinable Crops Scheme
784:Monbiot, George (2020-08-12).
1:
1337:Organisations based in Surrey
483:2022 United Kingdom heat wave
337:is charged to bear the logo.
1198:Farhoud, Nada (2023-03-11).
154:http://www.redtractor.org.uk
1248:Milton, Josh (2023-11-19).
946:. BBC News. 28 August 2020.
932:. BBC News. 20 August 2019.
1353:
1312:Food industry trade groups
528:, a children's cartoon on
257:Assured Chicken Production
1317:Food safety organizations
918:. BBC News. 25 June 2019.
424:Dispatches (TV programme)
357:Environmental limitations
117:Food and Drink Federation
112:British Retail Consortium
55:Food production standards
24:
687:, accessed 20 April 2022
605:www.ethicalconsumer.org
268:British Poultry Council
273:Crops and sugar beet (
162:Assured Food Standards
141:AFS board (Chairman -
46:Not-for-profit company
20:Assured Food Standards
1142:The Belfast Telegraph
640:Red Tractor Assurance
521:Food Standards Agency
97:Ulster Farmers' Union
1162:. December 10, 2022.
1054:. February 15, 2022.
1036:. December 18, 2021.
822:Red Tractor Consumer
722:Assured British Pigs
203:limited by guarantee
1144:. October 23, 2022.
1088:Eastern Daily Press
771:The Daily Telegraph
698:"AV | Carling"
313:Standards Australia
240:Assured Dairy Farms
21:
727:2010-10-25 at the
552:Cruelty to animals
526:Little Red Tractor
280:2008-09-08 at the
262:2007-06-07 at the
1126:. August 3, 2022.
1070:Lincolnshire Live
964:. 9 October 2021.
683:Companies House,
266:. Members of the
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1090:. July 19, 2022.
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1072:. June 15, 2022.
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982:. November 2021.
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743:. Archived from
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700:. Archived from
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1124:The Independent
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1108:. July 9, 2022.
1106:The Independent
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1052:The Independent
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1034:The Independent
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1018:. 31 July 2021.
1016:The Independent
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904:. 30 July 2018.
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849:. July 5, 2022.
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422:In March 2021,
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311:(a spin off of
300:Long Hanborough
282:Wayback Machine
264:Wayback Machine
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208:In April 2009,
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143:Christine Tacon
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127:Chief Executive
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1000:. 6 June 2021.
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747:on 2015-04-28
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1257:. Retrieved
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1230:. 2023-08-06
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1180:. 2023-01-05
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790:The Guardian
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749:. Retrieved
745:the original
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706:. Retrieved
702:the original
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668:. Retrieved
666:. 2000-06-13
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332:
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287:
230:
227:
207:
200:
197:
190:
181:animal abuse
173:quality mark
169:
161:
160:
71:Membership
42:Legal status
37:13 June 2000
1277:Red Tractor
417:Avara Foods
402:Sainsbury's
375:enterococci
346:slaughtered
335:royalty fee
321:, based in
170:Red Tractor
131:Jim Moseley
1291:Categories
1259:2023-11-20
1234:2023-08-07
1209:2023-03-12
1184:2023-01-06
881:2023-11-23
803:2020-08-15
751:2015-04-21
708:2010-10-25
670:2024-05-24
645:2024-07-03
570:References
468:Ecotricity
461:Co-op Food
408:the farm.
342:union flag
305:SAI Global
224:Operations
137:Main organ
980:Channel 4
901:The Times
876:0140-0460
867:The Times
798:0261-3077
773:. London.
541:Sugarwise
255:Poultry (
214:Liverpool
34:Formation
827:20 April
725:Archived
530:CBeebies
515:See also
452:Panorama
393:Moy Park
278:Archived
260:Archived
166:licenses
107:Dairy UK
507:life".
323:Lisburn
296:NSF-CMi
238:Dairy (
218:Carling
187:History
150:Website
52:Purpose
1204:mirror
874:
796:
478:farm.
1254:Metro
601:(PDF)
440:Viva!
398:Tesco
351:Tesco
80:Owner
872:ISSN
829:2022
794:ISSN
400:and
369:and
340:The
175:, a
168:the
102:AHDB
962:BBC
447:BBC
307:in
298:in
212:of
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