Liam Fox mocks fears about the sale of chlorine-soaked chickens in Britain after Brexit – describing it as 'a detail'

'The British media are obsessed with chlorine-washed chickens – a detail'

Trade Secretary Liam Fox has mocked concerns about the sale of chlorine-soaked chickens in Britain after Brexit – describing it as “a detail”.

Speaking in Washington, Dr Fox dismissed the growing fears that food quality regulations will be ripped up in order to secure a trade deal, opening the door to lower US standards.

In particular, there are concerns that the UK – in its desperation to strike an early agreement – will allow chickens washed in chlorine to be imported.

The EU has banned such sales, after long-standing criticisms that US farmers use the chemical washes to make up for inadequate hygiene on farms and abattoirs.

But Dr Fox said: “The British media are obsessed with chlorine-washed chickens – a detail of the very end stage of one sector of a potential free trade agreement.”

And he added, sarcastically: “We work on the premise that the British press corps in Washington never eat American chicken or beef when they are here due to their health worries.”

British reporters should instead be concerned about “how we make our contribution to global liberalisation and the increased prosperity of both the UK, the US and our trading partners,” Dr Fox added.

The comments confirmed reports that Dr Fox is relaxed about importing chlorine-washed chicken, believing the Americans have been eating it safely for years.

However, that stance has opened up a divide among key Brexiteers in the Cabinet, with Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom both firmly against.

Asked, earlier this month, if he was “absolutely clear” that British food standards “will not be loosened in any way”, Mr Gove, the Environment Secretary, replied: “Yes.”

And his predecessor Ms Leadsom, now the Commons Leader, said she had “serious concerns” about the consequences for British farmers.

Ms Leadsom fears that, if Britain lowers its standards to compete with America, it will lose its access to EU markets, as European countries will no longer accept our products.

In contrast, the EU uses a so-called ‘farm to fork’ approach, requiring steps all along the production chain to ensure the food ultimately sold is safe.

Any deal to allow US meat to be sold to Britain after inferior safety measures would be certain to provoke uproar from farmers and consumers.

Other concerns surround the US practice of pumping beef full of hormones and genetically modified crops.

But Downing Street has refused to say all regulations in place on food quality will be maintained after EU withdrawal – despite making exactly that guarantee for workers’ rights.

Asked if Britain could allow chlorine-washed chicken in a trade deal with the US, Theresa May’s official spokesman described the controversy as “hypothetical”.

Asked if slashing food standards had not been ruled out, he added: “You are getting way ahead of yourself and I’m not going to get into discussing hypotheticals.”