Tesco is helping the systematic destruction of pristine rainforest by stocking beef products made by a controversial supplier, a report has claimed.
Environmental group Greenpeace has accused the supermarket giant – the UK’s largest chain – of selling thousands of tins of beef products from cattle reared on illegally destroyed Amazonian rainforests in Brazil.
Greenpeace says its two-year investigation has uncovered that many of Tesco’s popular tinned beef products, including corned beef, tinned mince and steak chunks, originated from areas of Brazil where there is organised destruction of protected forests and removal of indigenous people from their lands.
Huge areas in the Amazon have been cleared to allow cattle to graze
The Tesco products identified during the investigation have been supplied by notorious beef supplier JBS, a company which in recent years has been exposed for failing to comply with national and international agreements designed to protect the Amazon.
The report, says Greenpeace, shows a clear chain of supply from beef grazing on illegally destroyed Amazon rainforests in Brazil, to the abattoirs, onto shipments to Tesco in the UK and then to the shelves of thousands of Tesco's high street stores.
Commenting on the findings from the investigation, Greenpeace Forests Campaigner Sarah Shoraka said: "Beef farming is the biggest cause of Amazon destruction. Tesco is driving this problem through its beef sourcing.
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“Tesco canned beef supply comes from illegal farms that destroy the Amazon and occupy indigenous people's land. Tesco's supplier JBS refuses to tackle the problem. Tesco needs to take the bull by the horns and stop selling beef that destroys the Amazon."
Greenpeace visited over 300 stores in the UK during February 2012 and found that nearly all stores sold beef products supplied by JBS.
The origins of these products were verified as having come from Brazil by the unique SIF number - an internationally recognised code that identifies the origin of Brazilian products.
This is not the first time JBS has been exposed for illegally felling Amazonian rainforests and forcing indigenous people from their traditional homes.
In 2009 Greenpeace released a report that first identified the scale of JBS's deforestation in the Amazon. As a result a number of leading high street stores pledged to source their Brazilian beef and stop buying from JBS.
A Tesco spokesperson said: "We are committed to tackling rainforest deforestation, including working with other consumer goods companies - through the Consumer Goods Forum - to help end deforestation by 2020. The vast majority of the beef we sell, including all fresh beef, is sourced from the UK and Ireland.
"Canned beef products sourced from Brazil account for less than one per cent of total beef sales. We started to cut back our supplies from JBS a year ago and have now ceased sourcing any canned beef products from JBS. Ethics and sustainability remain an important part of our dialogue with suppliers."
Customers will also be aware that Tesco earlier this year announced a partnership with charity RSPB to raise money to protect threatened rainforests.
Through the Together For Trees initiative, customers can donate green Clubcard points and vouchers to the RSPB to bolster its rainforest campaign work.