Tesco ‘disappointed’ by Greenpeace deforestation report

Supermarket giant Tesco has hit out at Greenpeace allegations that it stocks beef products sourced from cattle illegally raised on ranches in the deforested Amazon rainforest.

In a letter to the Guardian newspaper, Tesco’s executive director of corporate and legal affairs said she was “disappointed” at Greenpeace’s accusation.

“We have made it clear to our suppliers that the use of beef from illegally deforested regions is unacceptable,” wrote Lucy Neville-Rolfe.

However, online eco-magazine the Ecologist baulked at Tesco’s naivety.

“Despite the lack of traceability in the supply chain, the assurances of cattle producers that they are not involved in the illegal deforestation of the Amazon rainforest is apparently enough for Tesco,” wrote an Ecologist reporter.

Greenpeace’s report accused some of the world’s biggest retailers of encouraging deforestation by turning a blind-eye to the source of beef and leather products shipped from Brazil.

Adidas, BMW, Carrefour, Ford, Honda, Gucci, IKEA, Kraft, Tesco, Toyota and Wal-Mart were named and shamed by Greenpeace for driving rainforest destruction.

Since the report’s publication, Brazilian retailers including Carrefour, Wal-Mart and Pao de Acucar have suspended buying beef from companies that are currently being prosecuted on charges of illegal deforestation.