Overview

• A BBC investigation found that 17 tomato puree products sold in UK and German supermarkets, often labeled as 'Italian,' likely contain tomatoes sourced from China's Xinjiang region.
• Xinjiang, a major tomato-producing area, is linked to forced labor practices involving Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, according to UN reports and eyewitness accounts.
• Italian firm Antonio Petti was identified as a key importer of Xinjiang tomato paste, with its products distributed under its own brand and supermarket private labels across Europe.
• Supermarkets, including Tesco, Waitrose, and Lidl, have disputed the findings, with some conducting internal tests, while others, like Tesco and Rewe, suspended or withdrew implicated products.
• The investigation highlights gaps in UK and EU regulations on forced labor in supply chains, with calls for stricter laws to prevent such abuses in imported goods.