Correspondence
Email sent to the press office of Sainsbury's.
The email described connections between three suppliers of Sainsbury's - Nomad Foods, Young’s Seafood and Lyon’s Seafoods - and seafood processing companies in China that have recieved persons from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The email asked for comment on whether white fish sourced from these Chinse plants had ended up in any of the branded white fish products under Nomad Foods, Young’s Seafood and Lyon’s Seafoods brands was sold at Sainsbury's.
The Sainsbury's press office replied: “Protecting the welfare of people and communities in supply chains is fundamental to our sourcing practices. Forced labour has no place in our supply chain and we are thoroughly investigating these allegations.”
The Outlaw Ocean Project replied with additional supply chain questions concerning Sainsbury's supplier, Lyons, and its supplier Shandong Haidu. The email asked: 1. Could you confirm whether squid sourced from Shandong Haidu has been used in any of the Sainsbury's branded seafood sold by Sainsbury's since 2021? 2. Could you confirm whether squid sourced from Shandong Haidu has been used in any of the Sainsbury's branded seafood sold by Sainsbury's since 2018? Does Sainsbury’s have any comment or clarification to make regarding the above information?
The Outlaw Ocean Project's publishing partner in the UK, Sky News, contacted Sainsbury's for comment on the investigation.
Becky Cimelli, Media Relations Manager for Sainsbury's, replied to Sky News, saying: "A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, 'All of our suppliers have to meet our high ethical and worker welfare standards. If we have any reason to believe there is a situation within our supply chains which is in breach of those standards we take immediate action. We are working together with our suppliers and wider industry partners to understand the situation and take the most responsible and appropriate next steps.'"
The Outlaw Ocean Project emailed the Sainsbury's press office, saying: "Since we last contacted Sainsbury’s in August, our investigation into the use of forced labor in China’s seafood processing industry has made further findings which we want to bring to your attention, as they relate to your supply chain. Packaging analysis shows that a company called Cawoods Ltd. has been supplied salted pollock products from the Chinese company, Donggang Haimeng. We understand that Cawoods supplies salted pollock to Sainsbury’s, as per the Sainsbury’s website. We have uncovered evidence that Donggang Haimeng used North Korean labor after the December 2019 deadline for the repatriation of overseas North Korean workers required under United Nations Security Council sanctions. This evidence shows North Korean labor at Donggang Haimeng’s factory in Liaoning, China, as recently as 2023. While we understand that you may not be aware of the above issues, does Sainsbury’s have any comment to make in response to this email? Can you confirm or deny if Sainsbury’s has sold any product sourced from Donggang Haimeng since December 2019?"
Sophie Andrews, Media Relations Manager, replied for Sainsbury's: "Please see below for our response: A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: 'Forced labour has no place in our supply chain. We’re in contact with Cawoods and are urgently investigating these allegations.'"